# Dynamic two-photon calcium imaging and optogenetic manipulation of epileptic brain circuits in an experimental model of temporal lobe epilepsy

> **NIH NIH K08** · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · 2020 · $184,151

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This mentored career development award proposal describes an integrated training program designed to
advance my career towards the goal of running an independent R01-funded biomedical research laboratory
focused on the study of epilepsy. Currently, there is no way to prevent epilepsy in at-risk individuals prior to the
appearance of seizures, and there are limited treatment options for patients with medically intractable epilepsy.
With the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Coulter, I have designed a training plan to successfully learn and apply a
coordinated, powerful set of state-of-the-art techniques – including electrophysiology, optogenetics, and two-
photon calcium imaging – in vitro and then in awake, behaving experimental animals in vivo. The proposed
research tests the hypothesis that brain circuit dysfunction in a well-established model of epilepsy is due to
abnormal activity of a defined subtype of inhibitory interneuron, the fast-spiking cells (“FS cells”). This multimodal
analysis of circuit-level mechanisms of epilepsy will yield novel results that will contribute to the development
and application of novel therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat epilepsy.
Candidate: I am currently Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurology at The Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia (CHOP) and Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience at The Perelman School of Medicine at
the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). I am an M.D./Ph.D. physician-scientist with a strong background in
neuroscience, having received a Ph.D. in Physiology & Neuroscience from NYU in the laboratory of Dr. Bernardo
Rudy. I completed a five-year clinical training program in pediatric neurology at CHOP/UPenn and now take care
of children with epilepsy in General Neurology and Neurogenetics Clinic at CHOP. This proposal builds on my
long-standing interest in the neurobiology of disease and established interests in synaptic inhibition and
GABAergic inhibitory interneurons in the cerebral cortex. This K08 award will provide me with critical training and
support to insure a successful transition to independence and long-term achievement and productivity as a
neuroscientist and academic pediatric neurologist in the field of epilepsy. My goal is to become an R01-funded
independent investigator studying epilepsy in mouse models to inform the development of mechanistically
oriented therapies that could be translated to, and transform, patient care.
Environment: My mentor is Dr. Douglas Coulter, an established investigator in the field of epilepsy and a pioneer
in the application of dynamic imaging methods to the study of epilepsy mechanisms. Dr. Coulter is Director of
the Center for Dynamic Imaging of Nervous System Function at CHOP/UPenn and the Translational Research
Epilepsy Program at CHOP; he has multiple RO1 grants studying epilepsy. Dr. Coulter also has a robust track
record of mentoring trainees who have gone on themselves to be leaders in the field of epilepsy. H...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9963405
- **Project number:** 5K08NS097633-05
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA
- **Principal Investigator:** ETHAN M GOLDBERG
- **Activity code:** K08 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $184,151
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9963405

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9963405, Dynamic two-photon calcium imaging and optogenetic manipulation of epileptic brain circuits in an experimental model of temporal lobe epilepsy (5K08NS097633-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9963405. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*