Research

Current work in the lab is focused on developing gene therapies for pharmacoresistant epilepsies and insulin replacement. In these projects we are leveraging our experience in molecular cloning to develop novel adeno-associated viral (AAV) targeting vectors capable of delivering genes of interest. In a project funded by a CURE Challenge Award, we validated the ability of a modified K+ leak channel to reduce status epilepticus (Epilepsia, PMID: 24299204). Current funding focuses on developing novel drug-inducible genetic switches to control therapeutic gene delivery. Our work on insulin replacement is supported by the School of Medicine’s grant program ‘Launchpad for diabetes.” This project is a collaboration with Thurl Harris, also in the Pharmacology department. Our work on epilepsy includes both developing novel models of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE; Epilepsia, PMID: 32954490), exploring the causes of epilepsy, and developing therapies to prevent TLE seizures. Our epilepsy work is a collaboration with Drs. Ukpong Eyo (Neuroscience), Manoj Patel (Anesthesiology), Harald Sontheimer (Neuroscience) and Jaideep Kapur (Neurology). We have also leveraged our molecular cloning experience to advance studies in hearing with Dr. Jung-Bum Shin (Neuroscience) and in the control of breathing with Drs. Yingtang Shi and Doug Bayliss (Pharmacology).