Seed Grants

2024 Grant Cycle 

The 2024 grant cycle is now closed.

We welcome applications that seek to address basic, translational, and clinical research topics related to KCNT1-related epilepsy with the ultimate goal of identifying and developing effective and safe treatments for KCNT1-related epilepsy. Our 2024 seed grant will fund up to $30,000 and should have a 1-year duration. This grant is made possible by the KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation and its generous supporters.  

Our award winners were selected through a peer-review process designed to support research towards understanding KCNT1-related epilepsy and finding potential treatments.

Areas of Interest

The goal of this grant is to support research that can lead to the development of effective treatments for KCNT1 disorders. The project should focus on one or more of the following areas:

  • Define the non-conductance functions of KCNT1 to further disease understanding and find alternative treatment targets. Proposals should emphasize therapeutic potential.

  • Understand cellular mechanisms, splice variants, and gene modifiers that potentially influence KCNT1 and could serve as a potential therapeutic target. Proposals should emphasize therapeutic potential.

  • Repurposing screens of safe/FDA or EMA-approved drugs, previously shelved drugs with safety records, nutraceuticals, or other libraries of interest to identify a safe drug option that can be used quickly in KCNT1 patients

  • Exploration of safe/ FDA or EMA-approved drugs previously identified in repurposing screens: This may include in vitro and/or in vivo work, to investigate efficacy for multiple patient mutations. The proposal should state why additional preclinical testing is necessary before patients are treated.

  • Organization and execution of clinical trials for drugs already identified in repurposing screens: The proposal should include details of the clinical trial design, recruitment strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, primary and secondary outcomes, and statistical analysis plan.

  • Validation of assessment tools in KCNT1 patients for use in clinical trial outcome measures, especially non-seizure outcomes. Proposals should include details of the assessment tools to be validated, the validation process, and the expected outcomes.

  • Investigation of symptoms/pathophysiology outside of the brain, such as the role of KCNT1 in the lungs or cardiac symptoms. Proposals may include clinical studies or translational lab research.

  • Novel therapeutic approaches for KCNT1-related disorders: The proposal should include details of the approach, preclinical data, and the proposed plan for clinical translation.

  • Variant Classification. In addition to functional characterization of variants, there is a need for a more comprehensive method of classifying KCNT1 variants, including relevant criteria for incorporating data from sources including computational predictive models, cellular electrophysiology, and animal models, especially for VUS reclassification.

  • Discovery and validation of biomarkers (molecular and functional). To date, no KCNT1-specific biomarkers have been identified.

  • Investigation into the mechanisms underlying a caregiver-identified phenomenon wherein seizures are reduced during fever in children with KCNT1 epilepsy. Proposals may explore potential mechanisms to explain why seizures are reduced during fever and whether these mechanisms can be harnessed towards a potential therapeutic that can also suppress seizure.

  • Other topics are welcomed and encouraged.

    Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with existing KCNT1 researchers and to leverage existing disease models and data (e.g., animal models, Ciitizen natural history study data, registry data, biospecimens available from our biobank, KCNT1 cell lines, etc.) and should include a statement on resource sharing in their proposal.


Key Considerations:

  • Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with existing KCNT1 researchers and to leverage existing disease models and data (e.g., animal models, Ciitizen natural history study data, registry data, biospecimens available from our biobank, KCNT1 cell lines, etc.) and should include a statement on resource sharing in their proposal.  

  • Letters of Support from collaborators are encouraged. 

  • There are no geographical limitations for funding. 

  • *Please note that funds are not to be used to purchase equipment. 

  • *Please note that a maximum of 5% indirect costs and institutional overhead will be considered.