HAMMER LAB RESEARCH
Our Research Focus
Our main goal is to understand the process of epileptogenesis and to identify novel therapies that reduce seizures and that improve the quality of life of children with epilepsy. The lab combines different technologies and approaches including genomics and functional studies. Learn more about our research and areas of study below.
OUR RESEARCH
FUNCTIONAL STUDIES
Our gene expression profiling studies have provided clues as to which biological pathways are altered in the lead up to seizures, and we are beginning functional studies to learn more about these key pathways, and possible ways to target them to prevent seizures.
INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS
In collaboration with Dr. Lalitha Madhavan, we have established a human pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model with the SCN8A-N1768D variant to complement pathophysiological studies in the mouse, and to enhance therapeutic potential.
Would you like to learn more about our research projects?
GENE EXPRESSION
We study gene expression in brain samples surgically resected from patients with focal epilepsy, from mice with a genetic mutation that causes severe epilepsy in children, and from neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells carrying the same mutation.
MOUSE MODELS
Our models with the Scn8a-N1768D (D/+) mutation on different strains of mice strains permit us to study the processes leading to seizures and to test therapeutic interventions in a system that better represents human epilepsy than current chemical-induced animal models.
CONTACT
Keating 111K
1657 E Helen St
University of Arizona
Tucson AZ 85721
(520) 621-9828
