Grants per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Research in my laboratory is focused on studying genetic modifiers that influence the clinical severity of epilepsy. Variable expressivity is a common feature in patients with epilepsy caused by sodium channel mutations, and family members carrying the same mutation often exhibit differences in the clinical severity of epilepsy. Similarly, mouse models with mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels have a variable epilepsy phenotype depending on their genetic background. We use genetic and genomic approaches to identify modifier genes that contribute to phenotype variability in mouse models and also investigate whether the same genes contribute to epilepsy risk in patients. We then use neurophysiological approaches to study the mechanisms underlying phenotype modification. Isolation of epilepsy modifier genes will contribute to our understanding of the molecular basis of epilepsy and may suggest novel targets for improved treatment of human epilepsy.
Training Experience
2002 | Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Michigan |
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Neuroscience, University of Michigan
… → 1997
Research interests keywords
- Epilepsy
- Genetics
- Genomics
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Compound Evaluation in Scn1a+/- Dravet Mice
Kearney, J. A. (PD/PI) & Hawkins, N. A. (Other)
5/5/25 → 5/4/26
Project: Research project
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2025 BRIDGE Summer Research Internship Grant
Kearney, J. A. (PD/PI)
5/1/25 → 12/31/25
Project: Research project
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Assessing Excitation-Transcription Coupling in SCN2A-Related Disorder Mouse Models
Kearney, J. A. (PD/PI)
2/1/25 → 1/31/26
Project: Research project
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Base Editing for KCNH1-Related Disorder
George, A. L. (PD/PI), Hawkins, N. A. (Co-Investigator), Kearney, J. A. (Co-Investigator) & Simmons, C. (Co-Investigator)
2/1/25 → 2/1/26
Project: Research project
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Core C - Kearney
Kearney, J. A. (PD/PI) & Hawkins, N. A. (Co-Investigator)
National Institute of Mental Health
5/1/24 → 2/28/29
Project: Research project
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A high seizure burden increases brain concentrations of specialized pro-resolving mediators in the Scn1a+/- mouse model of Dravet syndrome
Yip, K. L., Zhou, C., Anderson, L. L., Hawkins, N. A., Kearney, J. A. & Arnold, J. C., Jan 2025, In: Prostaglandins and Other Lipid Mediators. 176, 106943.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Preclinical Evidence for a Drug–Drug Interaction Between Cannabinol and Melatonin
Anderson, L., Hawkins, N., Yip, K., Udoh, M., Kearney, J. & Arnold, J., Jan 2025, In: Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology. 136, 1, e14120.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Scopus citations -
A high seizure burden increases several prostaglandin species in the hippocampus of a Scn1a+/- mouse model of Dravet syndrome
Zhou, C., Satpute, V., Yip, K. L., Anderson, L. L., Hawkins, N., Kearney, J. & Arnold, J. C., Jun 2024, In: Prostaglandins and Other Lipid Mediators. 172, 106836.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus citations -
Altered neurological and neurobehavioral phenotypes in a mouse model of the recurrent KCNB1-p.R306C voltage-sensor variant
Kang, S. K., Hawkins, N. A., Thompson, C. H., Baker, E. M., Echevarria-Cooper, D. M., Barse, L., Thenstedt, T., Dixon, C. J., Speakes, N., George, A. L. & Kearney, J. A., May 2024, In: Neurobiology of Disease. 194, 106470.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Scopus citations -
Brain on Fire: How Brain Infection and Neuroinflammation Drive Worldwide Epilepsy Burden
Barker-Haliski, M., DePaula-Silva, A. B., Pitsch, J., Sontheimer, H., Hirsch, L. J., Galanopoulou, A. S. & Kearney, J. A., 2024, (Accepted/In press) In: Epilepsy Currents.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Scopus citations
Datasets
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Evaluating the interplay between estrous cyclicity and flurothyl-induced seizure susceptibility in Scn2aK1422E mice - Supplementary Table S1
Echevarria-Cooper, D. M. (Creator) & Kearney, J. A. (Creator), Prism. Galter Health Sciences Library. Northwestern University, 2023
DOI: 10.18131/pvcx7-p9x63, https://prism.northwestern.edu/doi/10.18131/pvcx7-p9x63
Dataset
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Strain-dependent effects on neurobehavioral and seizure phenotypes in Scn2a-K1422E mice
Echevarria-Cooper, D. M. (Creator), Hawkins, N. A. (Creator) & Kearney, J. A. (Creator), Prism. Galter Health Sciences Library. Northwestern University, 2023
DOI: 10.18131/wvn4p-y4z74, https://prism.northwestern.edu/doi/10.18131/wvn4p-y4z74
Dataset
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Evaluating the interplay between estrous cyclicity and induced seizure susceptibility in Scn2aK1422E mice - Supplementary Table S1
Echevarria-Cooper, D. M. (Creator) & Kearney, J. A. (Creator), Prism. Galter Health Sciences Library. Northwestern University, 2023
DOI: 10.18131/ft2vx-bw849, https://prism.northwestern.edu/doi/10.18131/ft2vx-bw849
Dataset