Jennifer Gelinas

Jennifer Gelinas, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the UCI School of Medicine. Her research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying epilepsy, particularly the role of potassium channels (e.g., KCNT1) in neuronal excitability and network dysfunction. She employs multiplatform approaches, including mouse models and in vitro studies, to investigate disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets for genetic epilepsies.

Her work has elucidated how gain-of-function KCNT1 mutations impair inhibitory neurons, leading to hyperexcitability and seizures. This research bridges basic science and translational medicine, with implications for developing cell-type-specific therapies for epilepsy.