Although numerous new preclinical models of seizure and epilepsy have been developed over the years, the fact still remains that only a few models have been clinically validated. Efficacy only needs to be established within the maximal electroshock, subcutaneous Metrazol (pentylenetetrazol), kindling models, or GAERS models to indicate the clinical potential of an investigational compound Read More…
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Increasing the emphasis on age-appropriate seizure models is critical to antiseizure drug discovery
While the majority of antiseizure drug (ASD) discovery has come on the back of rodent models of seizure and epilepsy, efficacy has been primarily established in male, young adult rodents. In this regard, little work has been conducted until recent years to initially understand whether novel agents are effective and well-tolerated in rodents of young Read More…
Travel Grant Awardee at 2019 Antiepileptic Drug and Device Trials Meeting
Dr. Melissa Barker-Haliski was recently awarded a travel grant to attend the 2019 Antiepileptic Drug and Device Trials Meeting in Aventura, FL May 22-24, 2019. This meeting will cover the many different compounds and treatments in development for patients with epilepsy.
Innovating for Tomorrow’s Cures for Epilepsy
The Translational Epilepsy Research Laboratory in the University of Washington Department of Pharmacy offers a number of fully-validated preclinical seizure and epilepsy models that are commonly used for the evaluation of acute anticonvulsant efficacy. Additionally, a number of the models in use are amenable to test the disease-modifying and/or antiepileptogenic potential of an investigational drug. Read More…
Cannabidiol (CBD) reduces seizures and associated behavioral comorbidities in a range of animal seizure and epilepsy models
Our most recent article to be published in Epilepsia focuses on the anti-seizure and disease-modifying effects of cannabidiol in a range of animal seizure and epilepsy models. The recent FDA approval of Epidiolex for the management of Lennox-Gastaut and Draves’s Syndrome are the target patient population for this new therapeutic approach to the use of Read More…
Preclinical Common Data Elements for Antiseizure Pharmacology Studies
Through the concerted efforts of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the American Epilepsy Society (AES), a series of common data elements for preclinical epilepsy research have been developed. Dr. Melissa Barker-Haliski was co-chair of the Pharmacology Task Force to develop common data elements for preclinical antiseizure drug development. This work issued a number Read More…
Development of a New Model of Pharmacoresistant Chronic Seizures
Pharmacoresistant epilepsy affects roughly 30% of the over 65 million individuals worldwide with the disease. Unfortunately, these patients are still in need of improved treatment options. While we have over 20 antiseizure drugs on the market, the number of individuals with pharmacoresistant epilepsy has remained relatively unchanged. The Translational Epilepsy Research Laboratory has recently developed Read More…