Seed Grants

The KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation funds innovative research to accelerate progress toward effective treatments and a cure for KCNT1-related epilepsy. Our competitive grant programs support scientists and clinicians worldwide working to deepen understanding of KCNT1 biology, improve disease modeling, and develop promising therapeutic strategies. These grants—made possible by the generosity of our community—are designed to spark collaboration and deliver meaningful discoveries that can directly impact the lives of families affected by KCNT1.

2025 Grant Cycle 

The 2025 grant cycle is now open, with two grants types:  

  • Innovation Grant ($50,000, Applications are OPEN)  

  • Brain Exploration Grant ($30,000, coming soon) 

Applications for the Innovation Grant close on Sept 15, 2025 at 8PM EST. See below for information about both grants.   

 

2025 Innovation Grant ($50,000)   

The KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation 2025 Seed Grant Program provides a one‐year grant to support 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 2025 Innovation grant will fund up to $50,000. This grant is made possible by the KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation and its generous supporters.  

Eligibility: This RFA is open globally. International applicants are invited to apply. All individuals holding a faculty‐level appointment at an academic institution or a senior scientific position at a non-profit or foundation or for-profit institution are eligible to respond to this RFA. Prior award recipients must have current and updated project reporting to be eligible for selection.  

  • Proposal Due Date: September 15 2025, no later than 8pm EST 

  • The application as a PDF file and budget as a PDF file should be emailed to ali@kcnt1epilepsy.org. Please send any questions to ali@kcnt1epilepsy.org.  

Research Focus Areas for Innovation Seed Grants:    

The goal of this grant is to support research that addresses specific areas of interest to the foundation and can ultimately lead to the development of effective treatments for KCNT1 disorders. These areas include and are not limited to the following:   

  • Understand the non-conducting functions of KCNT1 to further disease understanding and find alternative treatment targets.   

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

  • Investigation of KCNT1 outside of the brain, such as the role of KCNT1 in abnormal pulmonary vessels arising from pathologic postnatal angiogenesis (vessels formerly known as MAPCAs).    

  • Novel therapeutic approaches for KCNT1-related disorders.   

  • KCNT1 variant classification, which can include data from computational predictive models, cellular electrophysiology, and animal models, especially for VUS reclassification.  

 

Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with existing KCNT1 researchers and to leverage existing disease models and data (e.g., animal models, Citizen 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. 

2025 Brain Exploration Grant ($30,000, coming soon)  

The KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation 2025 Brain Exploration Grant provides a one‐year grant to address several key questions regarding KCNT1 expression, cellular distribution, localization, and pathology. Our ultimate goal is to identify and develop effective and safe treatments for KCNT1-related epilepsy. Our 2025 Brain Exploration grant will fund up to $30,000. This grant is made possible by the KCNT1 Epilepsy Foundation and its generous supporters. 

  

Eligibility: Due to the complexity of shipping brain material, this RFA is open to individuals within the USA only. Individuals holding a faculty‐level appointment at an academic institution or a senior scientific position at a non-profit or foundation or for-profit institution are eligible to respond to this RFA. Prior award recipients must have current and updated project reporting to be eligible for selection.  

  • Proposal Due Date: TBD, coming soon 

  • The application as a PDF file and budget as a PDF file should be emailed to ali@kcnt1epilepsy.org. Please send any questions to ali@kcnt1epilepsy.org.  

 

Research Focus Areas for Brain Exploration Grant:  

The goal of this grant is to support research that addresses key questions regarding KCNT1 expression, cellular distribution, localization, and pathology. These proposals must utilize human tissue stored within the NIH Neurobiobank. These areas include and are not limited to the following:   

 

  • Regional distribution and expression of KCNT1 mRNA and protein within the brain 

  • Cellular localization of KCNT1 within neuronal and glial populations 

  • Differences in transcriptomic/metabolomic/proteomic profiles across brain regions  

  • Differences in global/regional atrophy or pathology, including vasculature