Establishing a world-class center for epilepsy research
Founded by senior executives of the Houston-based companies created by the late Gordon Cain, the Gordon and Mary Cain Pediatric Neurology Research Foundation has supported Texas Children's since 1988. The organization deepened its dedication to children's health in 1992 with the establishment of the Cain Laboratories (Cain Labs) with a focus on epilepsy research.
Alleviating the burden of catastrophic epilepsies
A report from the National Academies states that 1 in 26 people will have some form of epilepsy during their life and a third of those are unresponsive to existing anticonvulsant medications. This means in the United States alone, about 100,000-150,000 children are in urgent need of new types of anti-seizure medication. The annual cost burden of epilepsy is estimated to range from $9.6 to $12.5 billion. A significant percentage of the costs are associated with the pediatric catastrophic epilepsies since they arise early in life and result in life-long disabilities. However, the economic, social and emotional burdens on the children and their families are incalculable.
Thus, our ultimate goal is to combine preclinical and clinical research to uncover novel therapeutic targets for patients suffering from various refractory epileptic disorders.
Accelerating innovative translational research
In 2010, the Cain Labs made a strategic move to the Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI), where top scientists from diverse disciplines work collaboratively to solve the most complex medical mysteries. Today, the Cain Labs' 6 principal investigators and 20 research staff represent a broad range of faculty who have extensive scientific expertise and are united by a singular goal: finding treatments for epilepsies. Under the leadership of Dr. Sameer Sheth, the Cain Labs are now poised to apply what we have discovered about the root causes of severe epilepsies to study a range of neurological conditions affected by similar pathways and advance innovative new therapies for these devastating diseases.
Help fund a better future
Your generous donations make our research possible. Give today, and you’ll help us continue our search for answers and give children with devastating neurological conditions the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
