Wednesday, February 18, 2026 2/18/2026

Roles of glycinergic neurons in Dravet syndrome-associated disordered breathing and mortality

Award Number: F31NS120467
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/24/2024

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Roles of glycinergic neurons in Dravet syndrome-associated disordered breathing and mortality - Summary Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe form of epilepsy with a high rate of SUPEP. Respiratory failure is a leading cause of SUDEP, and DS patients' frequently exhibit disordered breathing. However, mechanisms underlying respiratory dysfunction in DS are unknown. Evidence suggests cortical seizures activate inhibitory projections to suppress brainstem function and result in death; however, a yet unexplored possibility is that DS-associated mutations directly affect brainstem respiratory centers and serve as a common substrate for both seizure and respiratory dysfunction. We recently showed that Scn1a transcript is highly expressed in brainstem inhibitory neurons, and expression of a DS-associated Scn1a mutation (A1783V) in inhibitory neurons resulted in cell autonomous loss of neural activity and disruption of respiratory function at the cellular and whole-animal levels. Therefore, I hypothesize that loss of Scn1a function directly impacts brainstem respiratory control. To test this, I will disrupt Scn1a function globally (Scn1a-/+), specifically in all VGAT+ inhibitory neurons and only in glycinergic neurons (GlyT2:A1783V) and determine whether these animals exhibit disordered breathing, seizures or premature death (Aim 1), and altered cellular activity of respiratory neurons (Aim 2). This work will provide novel insight into roles of glycinergic neurons in DS, and determine the extent to which loss of Scn1a function directly affect brainstem function.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$11,153 )
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	4	1/17/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$9,879
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	4	6/25/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1,274
														Subtotal = -$11,153

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $46,740 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	4	12/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$45,460
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	4	5/10/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$1,280
														Subtotal = $46,740

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $44,681 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	3	12/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$43,739
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	3	2/10/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$942
														Subtotal = $44,681

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $43,004 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	002	2	6/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	11/30/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$42,288
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	2	4/21/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$717
														Subtotal = $43,004

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2021	2020	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	1/29/2021	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $41,078 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT	438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133	STORRS	CT	06269	CAPITOL	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	9/18/2020	NEW	$41,078
														Subtotal = $41,078

Grand Total All Awards = $164,350

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Roles of glycinergic neurons in Dravet syndrome-associated disordered breathing and mortality

Award Number: F31NS120467

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/24/2024

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