Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program
Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program
Welcome to the Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program
The project uses preclinical seizure models and neuroscience techniques to help develop new antiepileptic agents. Some 800-1000 novel compounds per year are evaluated against conventional drugs for anticonvulsant efficacy and potency, neurotoxicity, effect on liver function, and mechanism of action. Promising compounds, which exhibit a high level and/or unusual spectrum of anticonvulsant activity with superior therapeutic potential, are selected for detailed toxicology studies and subsequent clinical trials in epileptic patients. The project has been continually funded since 1975 and every new anticonvulsant introduced to clinical use in the USA during the past 40 years has been evaluated in this research program.
The program is an integral part of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and, as such, provides a site for research training of undergraduate students, departmental graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Faculty aligned with the program also provide instruction to professional students in the College of Pharmacy and the School of Medicine.
50th Anniversary Symposium for the Anticonvulsant Drug Development Program
On June 23, 2025 the Anticonvulsant Drug Develpment (ADD) Program commemorated 50 years of academic excellence with an unforgettable Anniversary Symposium. The ADD program is supported by a public/private/academic partnership that is the consequence of a continuous contract awarded to the ADD Program from the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke over the the last 50 years. The ADD Program has contributed to the preclinical development of 11 antiseizure medications (ASMs) that have been approved by the FDA for treatment for the person with epilepsy. To celebrated these accomplishments, more than 120 attendees—including a remarkable group of alumni—gathered to honor the ADD Program's legacy and future. Welcoming remarks from the Dr. Karen Wilcox, Distinguished Professor and Pharmacology and Toxicology Department Chair, Dr. Erin Rothwell, Vice President for Research at the University of Utah, Dr. Rachel Hess, Associate Vice President for Research, Health Sciences, and Dr. Randall Peterson, Dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of Utah set the stage for a day of connection, reflection, and discovery.
Highlights included talks by two compelling keynote speakers, Dr. H. Steve White, Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Washington, and former Director of the ADD Program, and Dr. Jacqueline French, Professor of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at NYU Lagone School of Medicine, a moving tribute video featuring messages from former trainees, and vibrant flash talks showcasing current epilepsy research from students and professors. These moments captured the heart of what makes this community so extraordinary—collaboration, mentorship, and impact.
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone. Here's to five decades of breakthroughs, learning, and leadership—and to an inspiring journey ahead.
ADD's College of Pharmacy’s Program Awarded $19.5M Contract Renewal To Identify Compounds for Treating Therapy-Resistant Epilepsy
Mission
The Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program is actively involved in the early identification and characterization of novel investigational anticonvulsant drugs for the symptomatic treatment of epilepsy. In addition, the research focus of the ADD Program is currently being expanded to include studies aimed at:
- Facilitating the identification and development of novel drugs for the treatment of therapy resistant epilepsy and other chronic central nervous system (CNS) disorders through applied research;
- Promoting a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of epilepsy and other CNS disorders through innovative basic research; and
- Stimulating future neuroscience research by providing a unique training environment for graduate and post-graduate students as well as clinical research fellows and visiting scientists.
