# Extransynaptic GABAA modulators for benzodiazepine refractory status epilepticus

> **NIH NIH R21** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2021 · $432,826

## Abstract

Status epilepticus (SE) is a time-sensitive medical emergency that often becomes
refractory to current standard-of-care interventions. As seizures persist, medical treatments
increase in severity from simple intravenous benzodiazepines (BZDs) administered within the
first 15-30 minutes of SE, to anti-epileptic drugs after 30 minutes, to anesthetic and/or
barbiturate induced coma. Treatment course beyond the initial BZDs is not clinically defined and
the ability to stop SE even when treated in a timely manner is insufficient. Therefore, there
exists a need for superior medical interventions for both rapid and delayed treatment of SE. We
have identified a new compound that could fill this role. In preliminary testing, this compound
was found to be far superior to BZDs in the treatment of nerve-agent induced SE. In this project
we seek to determine if the compound may be efficacious in the treatment of SE induced by
more standard chemoconvulsants that produce BZD-refractory SE. The second goal of the
proposal is to determine the specific molecular target of this compound in live brain slices.
Together, these data will help to support the development of this compound for potential use as
a first-line treatment of SE, or second-line treatment of refractory SE, in human patients.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10372824
- **Project number:** 1R21NS121590-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** F. Edward DUDEK
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $432,826
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-30 → 2025-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10372824

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10372824, Extransynaptic GABAA modulators for benzodiazepine refractory status epilepticus (1R21NS121590-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10372824. Licensed CC0.

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