Email this page   Print-friendly version   Contact NINDS   Adobe Reader   Microsoft Word Viewer

 

Channels, synapses, and neural circuits are fundamental structural and functional elements of the nervous system. Detailed and integrated knowledge of these elements is essential for understanding how the nervous system works under normal and abnormal conditions. In recent years, remarkable progress and exciting discoveries have been made in the basic research in these areas; only few of them, however, have been directly connected to mechanisms underlying the causes of numerous neurological disorders. The major goals of our program are 1) to continue to support the ongoing basic and clinical research; 2) to foster research on particular channels, synapses, and neural circuits that have immediate medical relevance; and 3) encourage translational research that links the discoveries from basic research into medication development and therapeutic interventions for treating neurological disorders, such as epilepsy.

 

Topics of research supported by the Channels, Synapses, and Neural Circuits cluster include neural circuit analysis, synaptic transmission, synaptic plasticity, structural analysis of neuronal membrane proteins, channelopathies, and epilepsy.  The cluster supports basic and translational research, as well as clinical trials, and facilitates multidisciplinary collaborations.

Quick Links

Workshop Summary

• Curing Epilepsy 2007: Translating Discoveries into Therapies March 28, 2007
• All NINDS Workshop Summaries and Conference Proceedings
• NIH Workshop on Dementia of Alzeimer's Disease and Epliepsy: Converging Mechanisms October 15, 2008

Channels, Synapses, and Neural Circuits Funding Initiatives

• All active Channels, Synapses, and Neural Circuits funding initiatives

There are several NINDS Funding Initiatives that may be of interest to the epilepsy research community.

Ancillary Studies in Clinical Trials of CNS/PNS Disorders - NINDS Accelerated Awards Program (R01)
Release Date: 2009-09-17, Contact: Claudia Moy, Ph.D., [ (R01) PAR-09-263]

 Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA) (R01
Release Date: 2009-09-17, Contact: Edmund Talley, Ph.D. [(R01) RFA-GM-10-009]

Channels, Synapses, and Neural Circuits Program Staff

Scientific Staff	Research Area
Brandy Fureman, Ph.D. Program Director	Epilepsy
Shai Silberberg, Ph.D. Program Director	Molecular structure and function of ion channels and transporters
Randall Stewart, Ph.D. Program Director	Basic mechanisms of epilepsy and epileptogenesis, channelopathies, SBIR, STTR
Edmund Talley, Ph.D. Program Director	Synaptic transmission and neuromodulation
Christina Vert, M.S. Program Analyst	Small business (SBIR, STTR), epilepsy
Miriam Leenders, Ph.D. Program Analyst

Address

Channels, Synapses and Neural Circuits
Neuroscience Center