Yueqing Peng, PhD awarded R21 to explore sleep-related epilepsy

IGM faculty member focuses on impact of sleep on neuropsychiatric disorders

September 23, 2020

Yueqing Peng, PhD was recently awarded an R21 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The project, basal forebrain cholinergic dysfunction in sleep-related epilepsy, will utilize a genetic mouse model of NFLE to investigate how sleep and sleep circuits regulate seizures.  Specifically, Dr. Peng and his lab will make use of optogenetics, fiber photometry, electrophysiology, and mouse genetics to study the role of basal forebrain cholinergic circuitry in sleep-related epilepsy. By identifying novel sleep-specific brain regions in epilepsy, the work proposed in this research proposal will provide novel therapeutic targets for epilepsy treatments.The R21 grant mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of project development. The award spans two years. Dr. Peng is an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology in the Institute for Genomic Medicine.