Director, Master's in Neuroscience Program
Associate Professor
Contact
Kristina A . Simeone, PhD
Director, Master's in Neuroscience Program
Associate Professor
Dr. Kristina Simeone’s laboratory focuses on sleep, epilepsy and sudden death in epilepsy using in vitro and in vivo molecular biology, pharmacology and neurophysiology techniques to identify novel mechanisms and therapeutic targets that will ultimately improve the quality of life in people with epilepsy. Learn more about Dr. Simeone’s research.
Department
Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Position
Associate Professor
Books
- Homeostatic Control of Brain Function
Simeone Kristina, Sleep [Book Chapter] 2015
Publications
- Nutrients
Iyer Shruthi H, Dietary and Metabolic Approaches for Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders, Affective Disorders and Cognitive Impairment Comorbid with Epilepsy: A Review of Clinical and Preclinical Evidence
16:4 2024 - Epilepsy currents
Simeone Timothy, The Unconventional Effects of the Ketogenic Diet (KD) in Preclinical Epilepsy 2024 - Epilepsy currents
Simeone Kristina, Diving Deep for Sleep: How pH and Blood Volume in the Lateral Hypothalamus Impact REM
23:6, p. 375 - 377 2023 - Epilepsy currents
Simeone Kristina A., SUDEP: A Local Low Pressure [pO(2)] System Makes It Hard to Breathe 2023 - European journal of pharmacology
Kostansek, 4th Joseph A, Orexin receptors regulate hippocampal sharp wave-ripple complexes in ex vivo slices
950, p. 175763 - 175763 2023 - Frontiers in Neurology
Hampson Johnson P., Functional MRI Correlates of Carbon Dioxide Chemosensing in Persons With Epilepsy
13 2022 - Nutrients
Heruye Segewkal H., Ascorbic Acid Reduces Neurotransmission, Synaptic Plasticity, and Spontaneous Hippocampal Rhythms in In Vitro Slices
14:3 2022 - European Journal of Pharmacology
Deodhar Malavika, Pharmacoresponsiveness of spontaneous recurrent seizures and the comorbid sleep disorder of epileptic Kcna1-null mice
913 2021 - Epilepsia
Simeone Kristina A., Ketogenic diet–mediated seizure reduction preserves CA1 cell numbers in epileptic Kcna1-null mice
62:8, p. e123 - e128 2021 - Brain Sciences
Simeone Timothy A., Carbamazepine reduces sharp wave-ripple complexes and exerts synapse-specific inhibition of neurotransmission in ex vivo hippocampal slices
11:6 2021 - Epilepsy Currents
Buchanan Gordon F., Proceedings of the Sleep and Epilepsy Workshop
21:3, p. 215 - 219 2021 - Metabolomics
Johnson Alicia, Changes in lipid profiles of epileptic mouse model
16:10 2020 - Journal of Proteomics
Grove Ryan A., Aberrant energy metabolism and redox balance in seizure onset zones of epileptic patients
223 2020 - Epilepsia
Iyer Shruthi H., Progressive cardiorespiratory dysfunction in Kv1.1 knockout mice may provide temporal biomarkers of pending sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
61:3, p. 572 - 588 2020 - Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
Bolton Jessica L., Programming of stress-sensitive neurons and circuits by early-life experiences
13 2019 - Epilepsy Research
Knowles Sara, Ketogenic diet regulates the antioxidant catalase via the transcription factor PPARγ2
147, p. 71 - 74 2018 - Neurobiology of Disease
Warren Ted J., Adenosine has two faces
114, p. 45 - 52 2018 - Neuropharmacology
Simeone Timothy A., Do ketone bodies mediate the anti-seizure effects of the ketogenic diet?
133, p. 233 - 241 2018 - Molecular Psychiatry
Singh-Taylor A., NRSF-dependent epigenetic mechanisms contribute to programming of stress-sensitive neurons by neonatal experience, promoting resilience
23:3, p. 648 - 657 2018 - Epilepsia
Simeone Kristina A., Respiratory dysfunction progresses with age in Kcna1-null mice, a model of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
59:2, p. 345 - 357 2018 - Epilepsia
Iyer Shruthi H., Accumulation of rest deficiency precedes sudden death of epileptic Kv1.1 knockout mice, a model of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
59:1, p. 92 - 105 2018 - Epilepsia
Kerrigan J. F., Hypothalamic Hamartoma: Neuropathology and Epileptogenesis
58:Issue 52 Supplement 2, p. 22 - 31 2017 - Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
Kerrigan John F., Hypothalamic Hamartomas
91:1, p. 45 - 55 2013 - Epilepsia
Simeone Timothy A., L-type calcium channel blockade reduces network activity in human epileptic hypothalamic hamartoma tissue
52:3, p. 531 - 540 2011 - Hormone Research in Paediatrics
Chan Yee Ming, Central precocious puberty due to hypothalamic hamartomas correlates with anatomic features but not with expression of GnRH, TGFα, or KISS1
73:5, p. 312 - 319 2010 - Experimental Neurology
Head E., Effects of age, dietary, and behavioral enrichment on brain mitochondria in a canine model of human aging
220:1, p. 171 - 176 2009 - Epilepsia
Fenoglio-Simeone Kristina A., Effects on ketogenic diet treatment on circadian rhythmicity and seizure periodicity in chronically epileptic Kcna1 knockout mice
50:9, p. 2027 - 2034 2009 - Epilepsy & Behavior
Fenoglio-Simeone Kristina A., Anticonvulsant effects of the selective melatonin receptor agonist ramelteon
16:1, p. 52 - 57 2009 - Epilepsia
Fenoglio-Simeone Kristina A., Ketogenic diet treatment abolishes seizure periodicity and improves diurnal rhythmicity in epileptic Kcna1-null mice
50:9, p. 2027 - 2034 2009 - Epilepsy Research
Kim Do Young, Bicarbonate contributes to GABAA receptor-mediated neuronal excitation in surgically resected human hypothalamic hamartomas
83:1, p. 89 - 93 2009 - Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
Beggs John, Hypothalamic hamartomas associated with epilepsy
67:7, p. 657 - 668 2008 - Epilepsia
Kim Do Young, GABAA receptor-mediated activation of L-type calcium channels induces neuronal excitation in surgically resected human hypothalamic hamartomas
49:5, p. 861 - 871 2008 - Seminars in Pediatric Neurology
Fenoglio Kristina A., Hypothalamic Hamartoma
14:2, p. 51 - 59 2007 - Molecular Psychiatry
Chen Y., Cellular and molecular mechanisms of hippocampal activation by acute stress are age-dependent
11:11, p. 992 - 1002 2006 - Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
Fenoglio Kristina A., Hippocampal neuroplasticity induced by early-life stress
27:2, p. 180 - 192 2006 - Journal of Neuroscience
Fenoglio Kristina A., Neuroplasticity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis early in life requires recurrent recruitment of stress-regulating brain regions
26:9, p. 2434 - 2442 2006 - Endocrinology
Fenoglio Kristina A., Enduring, handling-evoked enhancement of hippocampal memory function and GR expression involves activation of the CRF type-1 receptor
146:9, p. 4090 - 4096 2005 - Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Brown Maile R., Nitrogen disruption of synaptoneurosomes
137:2, p. 299 - 303 2004 - Endocrinology
Fenoglio Kristina A., Region-specific onset of handling-induced changes in corticotropin- releasing factor and glucocorticoid receptor expression
145:6, p. 2702 - 2706 2004 - Annals of Neurology
Sullivan Patrick G., The Ketogenic Diet Increases Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein Levels and Activity
55:4, p. 576 - 580 2004 - Annals of Neurology
Sullivan Patrick G., Mitochondrial uncoupling protein-2 protects the immature brain from excitotoxic neuronal death
53:6, p. 711 - 717 2003
Presentations
- International League Against Epilepsy Invited speaker Sleep, epilepsy and orexin 2022
- Sleep and Epilepsy Workshop Phase II Invited speaker 'Sleep and SUDEP' 2021
- Invited to speak at Creighton University's Sleep Challenge Kickoff Event 2021
- Invited speaker Neuropeptides and Neurotransmitters in SUDEP at the American Epilepsy Society Meeting 2020
- As one of eight keynote speakers, Dr. Simeone presented 'The Basic Science of Sleep and SUDEP at the international Partners Against Mortality in Epilepsy Conference 2020
- Invited speaker for SUDEP Action Day 'Biological Mechanisms of SUDEP' 2020
- Sleep and Epilepsy Workshop sponsored by Band Foundation-AES-NIH Invited speaker: Sleep and SUDEP' 2019
- American Epilepsy Society Invited speaker: Metabolic Therapies and Co-Morbidities, Pediatric State of the Art Symposium 2018
- American Epilepsy Society Invited speaker: Sleep Deficiency and the Timing of Death' 2017
- American Epilepsy Society Invited speaker: Ketogenic Diet, Comorbid Sleep Disorders and SUDEP' 2017
- Global Symposium on Ketogenic Therapies Invited speaker: KD and Comorbidities in Epilepsy 2016
- Iyer S, Matthews SA, Smason KK, Simeoen KA, Simeone TA. Antiseizure Effects of Ketogenic Diet Are Mediated Via Regulation of Brain PPAR-Gamma, A Nutritionally Responsive Transcription Factor. Antiseizure Drug Development Symposium: Therapy Development in the Era of Team Science and Big Data: What Will the Future Bring to the Patient with Epilepsy? Salt Lake City, UT. 2015
- Preliminary evidence of adaptive immune cell infiltration into the brain of a genetic model of chronic epilepsy. Antiseizure Drug Development Symposium: Therapy Development in the Era of Team Science and Big Data: What Will the Future Bring to the Patient with Epilepsy? Salt Lake City, UT. 2015
- Effects of Dual orexin receptor antagonist treatment improves sleep and reduces seizures in Kv1.1KO mice. Antiseizure Drug Development Symposium: Therapy Development in the Era of Team Science and Big Data: What Will the Future Bring to the Patient with Epilepsy? Salt Lake City, UT. 2015
- Sleepless and Hyperexcitable, Biomedical Science Seminar Series, University of California at Riverside, Riverside, CA. 2015
- Department Research Rounds, CUSOM. Title: A tale of two tales: mitochondria and the ketogenic diet 2015
- Orexinergic activity and seizure propagation to the lateral hypothalamus. St. Albert's Day 2015
- Mitochondria as a Novel Anti-Seizure Target, Biochemistry Seminar Series,CUSOM, Omaha, NE. 2015
- Simeone TA, Matthews SA, Samson KK, Simeone KA. PPARgamma mediates ketogenic diet anti-seizure efficacy. American Epilepsy Society, Seattle, WA. 2014
- Consequences of seizure propagation to the sleep regulating lateral hypothalamus. Society for Neuroscience, Washington D.C. 2014
- Use of Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography to Measure Adenosine Amounts in Mouse Brain. ACS Midwest Regional Meeting - Columbia, MO. 2014
- Invited speaker: Epilepsy, sleep and mitochondria, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Current and Future Directions for Translational Epilepsy Research Symposium. 2014
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Neurological Sciences. Current and Future Directions for Translational Epilepsy Research Seminar. Title: Epilepsy, sleep and mitochondria. 2014
- Invited Speaker: 'Seizure Propagation to the Lateral Hypothalamus and Sleep-Wake Triggers' Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR 2014
- Mitochondria, Neurotransmission and Epilepsy Biomedical Science Research Series, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 2014
- 'Effects of the dual orexin receptor antagonist almorexant on sleep in the Kcna1-null mouse model of epilepsy'. HM Roundtree, CC Johnson, SA Matthews, TA Simeone, KA Simeone at MSRB, Omaha, NE 2014
- 'Effects of the dual orexin receptor antagonist almorexant on sleep in the Kcna1-null mouse model of epilepsy'. HM Roundtree, CC Johnson, SA Matthews, TA Simeone, KA Simeone at St. Alberts Day, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 2014
- Interviewed by Malorie Maddox of WOWT News in a piece titled Food For Thought to discuss how what you eat influences your brain, December 5, 2013. http://www.wowt.com/video?videoid=2732523 2013
- Simeone KA. A Novel Mitochondria-targeted Anticonvulsant Treatment. 2013 Curing the Epilepsies meeting, NINDS, Bethesda, MD. 2013
- Simeone KA, Stephanie A. Matthews SA, Samson KK, Simeone TA. A Novel Mitochondria-targeted Anticonvulsant Treatment. American Epilepsy Society, San Diego, CA, December, 2012. 2012
- J. F. Kerrigan, A. Parsons, K. Simeone, J. Wu, J. Beggs, S. Coons.SMALL AND LARGE NEURONS FROM HUMAN EPILEPTIC HYPOTHALAMIC HAMARTOMA: GOLGI ANALYSIS OF SURGICALLY-RESECTED TISSUE.American Epilepsy Society, San Diego, CA, December, 2012. 2012
- Roundtree HM, Samson KK, Simeone TA, Simeone KA. Evidence of Pathology in the Lateral Hypothalamus: A Connection Between Sleep Disorder and Epilepsy in the Kv1.1 Knock-Out Mouse. American Epilepsy Society, San Diego, CA, December, 2012. 2012
- Ranade NP, Samson KK, Simeone KA, Simeone TA. Anticonvulsant Effects of Pioglitazone on High Potassium Seizure-Like Events in in vitro Hippocampal Slices. American Epilepsy Society, San Diego, CA, December, 2012. 2012
- Samson KK, Simeone KA, Rho JM, Simeone TA. Effects of Ketogenic Diet and Constituents on Pathologic Sharp Waves and High Frequency Oscillations. American Epilepsy Society, San Diego, CA, December, 2012. 2012
- Simeone KA, Roundtree HM, Samson KK, Simeone TA. Pathologic Hypocretin Circuitry: A Novel Mechanism of Sleep Disorders Associated with Epilepsy in Kv1.1 Knock-Out Mice. Creighton University, The Faculty Club Research at Center Stage, October, 2012. 2012
- Sleep Disorder Co-morbidities Associated with Epilepsy: The Role of Adenosine Type 1 Receptor (A1R) in the Hypothalamus 2012
- Pathologic Hypocretin Circuitry: A Novel Mechanism of Sleep Disorders Associated with Epilepsy in Kv1.1 Knock-Out Mice 2011
- Loss of Kv1.1 alpha Subunit Alters Hippocampal Sharp Wave-Ripple Complexes and Promotes the Emergence of Pathologic Fast Ripples 2011
- Medical Student Research Interest Group: Epilepsy and Novel Anticonvulsant Therapies 2011
- American Epilepsy Society, San Antonio, TX. "Pathologic Mitochondria and Refractory Epilepsy: Carbamazepine (CBZ) Directly Modulates Mitochondrial Function in Wild-Type and Epileptic Mice." Poster Presenter. KA Simeone, JM Rho, N Jain, TA Simeone. 2010
- "Mitochondria, Metabolism and Epilepsy," University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Department of Biochemistry & Redox Biology Center 2010
- "Normal Network Emergent Properties Hijacked by an Epileptic Brain." TA Simeone, KA Simeone, KA Samson, JM Rho. Creighton University, The Faculty Club Research at Center Stage. 2010
- "Pathologic Mitochondria and Refractory Epilepsy: Carbamazepine (CBZ) Directly Modulates Mitochondrial Function in Wild-Type and Epileptic Mice." Poster Presenter. KA Simeone, JM Rho, N Jain, TA Simeone. Creighton University, The Faculty Club Research at Center Stage. 2010
- Invited Speaker: "Epilepsy, Sleep Disorders and Adenosine," Brown University, William C. Dement Sleep and Chronobiology Summer Research Apprenticeship Program, Providence RI. 2010
- Simeone, K.A. Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders 2010
- A. Strobel, K.A. Simeone, S.W. Coons, J.F. Kerrigan. Cellular Density of Human Hypothalamic Hamartomas. 2009
- "Epilepsy and Sleep Disorders" Creighton University School of Medicine 2009
- "Translational research: Human epileptic hypothalamic hamartoma tissue" Creighton University School of Medicine. 2009
- Invited Speaker: 'Mechanisms of Epileptogenesis in Human Hypothalamic Hamartoma.' Neuroscience Symposium, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 2008
- Invited Speaker: 'Epileptogenicity in Human epileptic Tissue In Vitro,'Epilepsy Research Rounds, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 2008
- Invited Speaker: 'A Planar Multielectrode Array Analysis of Resected Human Hypothalamic Hamartoma Tissue,' Winter Conference on Brain Research, Vale, CO 2007
- Invited Speaker: 'Epigenetics: Methylation and Acetylation,' University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 2004
State
Biomarkers for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
Mitochondria bioenergetics and epilepsy
Orexin and Tanycytes
Other
Seizures and autoresuscitation
Respiratory dysfunction precedes sudden death in epilepsy
Faculty Start-up Funds
The Role of Hypocretin in the Sleep Disorders of Epilepsy
Foundation/Association
Orexin triggers autonomic destabilization in SUDEP
Mitochondrial Impairment During Epileptogenesis
Multi-electrode recordings of human epileptic hypothalamic hamartoma tissue.
Federal
PPARgamma, Epilepsy and Therapeutics.
Role: Co-IAdenosine, Hypocretin and Sleep disorder co-morbidities Associated Epilepsy
University of California at Irvine, Pre-doctoral Training Fellowship
Mechanisms of SUDEP: Failure to Autoresuscitate
Industry/Corporation
Efficacy of Ramelteon in Animal Models of Chronic Limbic Epilepsy: A Pilot Study
Awards
- Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) SUMMIT
40 basic science and clinical experts were tasked to identify short term and long term research goals that will lead to the prevention of SUDEP within the next 10 years.
Hosted by the American Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Foundation, SUDEP Institute - Invited expert participate for SUDEP and Epilepsy Workshop
Alexandria, VA
NIH-AES - Medical Student Research Fellowship
Shelby Herr received a fellowship to study the autoresuscitation response to hypercapnia and hypoxia in epilepsy
Creighton University School of Medicine - Medical Student Research Fellowship
Cameron Booth received a fellowship to study the autoresuscitation response to hypercapnia and hypoxia in epilepsy
Creighton University School of Medicine - Basic Science of the Year Award
Each year, the International League Against Epilepsy leadership team, and the Associate Editors and Editorial Board for Epilepsia select the best basic science research paper of the year. Our 2020 paper was nominated and won: “Progressive cardiorespiratory dysfunction in Kv1.1 knockout mice may provide temporal biomarkers of pending sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): The contribution of orexin”, by Iyer SH, Aggarwal A, Warren TJ, Hallgren J, Abel PW, Simeone TA, Simeone KA in Epilepsia. 2020 Mar;61(3):572-588. doi: 10.1111/epi.16434. Epub 2020 Feb 6. PMID: 32030748.
International League Against Epilepsy and Epilepsia - Invited expert participant for the Sleep and Epilepsy Workshop
Expert participant
Alexandria, VA
NIH-AES-Band Foundation
NIH-AES-Band Foundation - Travel award for Curing the Epilepsies: Pathways Forward Conference
Bethesda, MD
NIH/NINDS - Excellence in Research Award
Creighton University School of Medicine - Young Investigator Faculty Member Award
Creighton University School of Medicine - Nominated and selected for AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar
Washington DC
AAMC