Quynh Anh Nguyen, Ph.D.

K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award
Image
photo of Quynh Anh Nguyen
Institution
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

Dr. Quynh Anh Nguyen is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Neurosurgery at Stanford University. Under the mentorship of Drs. Gyorgy Buzsaki, Linqun Luo, and Alice Ting, Dr. Nguyen will expand our understanding of temporal lobe epilepsy. Her work has already identified a distinct cluster of cells within the hippocampus that are particularly active during seizures. Using a focal genetic knockout model and an intrahippocampal kainite model, she will explore the role of this cluster in both interictal and ictal activity in chronically epileptic animals. She will also determine whether optogenetic inhibition of these cells during seizures can suppress chronic spontaneous seizures. Finally, she will examine if early intervention in this region can prevent epilepsy progression. By improving our understanding of neuronal circuits controlling seizure development, Dr. Nguyen’s work may lead to the identification of novel targets for therapies. Dr. Nguyen received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Stanford University and her PhD from the University of California in San Francisco.