Current Research Description

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) are a genetically heterogeneous group of neurological disorders characterized by early-onset seizures along with cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments. The Wagnon laboratory is interested in understanding genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying DEE and identifying new treatment strategies for these severe disorders. Our current studies focus on DEE caused by variants in the neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel gene SCN8A. We are developing mouse models of SCN8A encephalopathy to study pathogenesis of seizures and related comorbidities. A second focus of the lab is to investigate the role of regulation of gene expression in seizure pathology. Changes in mRNA and microRNA levels represent a general transcriptional response to seizures that may implicate new therapeutic targets.