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Kristina A . Simeone, PhD

Director, Master's in Neuroscience Program

Associate Professor

K Simeone

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School of Medicine
Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Neuroscience (Master of Science)
Graduate School
CRISS III - Criss 3

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

Articles

  • Brain Sciences
    Simeone, TA; Simeone KA, Simeone TA, Heruye SH, Kostansek JA 4th, Yeh MY, Matthews SA, Samson KK, Simeone KA. Carbamazepine Reduces Sharp Wave-Ripple Complexes and Exerts Synapse-Specific Inhibition of Neurotransmission in Ex Vivo Hippocampal Slices.
    11(6), p. 787 2021
  • Epilepsy Currents
    Buchanan GF; Pavlova MK, Buchanan GF, Gluckman BJ, Kalume FK, Lhatoo S, Maganti RK, Noebels JL, Simeone KA, Quigg MS, Pavlova MK. Proceedings of the Sleep and Epilepsy Workshop: Section 3 Mortality: Sleep, Night, and SUDEP. 2021
  • Metabolomics
    Johnson A; Adamec J, Johnson A, Grove RA, Madhavan D, Boone CHT, Braga C, Kyllo H, Samson K, Simeone K, Simeone T, Helikar T, Hanson CK, Adamec J. Changes in lipid profiles of epileptic mouse model.
    16(10), p. 106 2020
  • Journal of Proteomics
    Grove RA, Adamec J, Grove RA, Madhavan D, Boone CHT, Braga CP, Papackova Z, Kyllo H, Samson K, Simeone K, Simeone T, Helikar T, Hanson CK, Adamec J. Aberrant Energy Metabolism and Redox Balance in Seizure Onset Zones of Epileptic Patients'
    223, p. 103812 2020
  • Epilepsia
    Iyer SH; Simeone KA, Iyer SH, Aggarwal A, Warren TJ, Hallgren J, Abel PW, Simeone TA, Simeone KA. Progressive cardiorespiratory dysfunction in Kv1.1 knockout mice may provide temporal biomarkers of pending sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP): The contribution of orexin.
    61(3), p. 572-588 2020
  • Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
    Bolton JL, Short AK, Simeone KA, Daglian J, Baram TZ. Programming of Stress-Sensitive Neurons and Circuits by Early-Life Experiences.
    18, p. 13-30 2019
  • Epilepsy Research
    Knowles S, Budney, Deodhar M, Matthews SA, Simeone KA, Simeone TA. Ketogenic diet regulates the antioxidant catalase via the transcription factor PPARγ2.
    147, p. 71-74 2018
  • Neurobiology of Disease
    Warren TJ, Simeone TA, Smith DD, Grove R, Adamec J, PhDc, Samson KK, Roundtree HM, Madhavan D, Simeone KA. Adenosine has two faces: regionally dichotomous adenosine tone in a model of epilepsy with comorbid sleep disorders.
    114, p. 45-52 2018
  • Neuropharmacology
    Simeone TA, Simeone KA, Stafstrom CE, Rho JM. Do ketone bodies mediate the anti-seizure effects of the ketogenic diet?
    133, p. 233-241 2018
  • Molecular Psychiatry
    Singh-Taylor A, Molet J, Jiang S, Korosi A, Bolton JL, Noam Y, Simeone K, Cope J, Chen Y, Mortazavi A, Baram TZ.NRSF-dependent epigenetic mechanisms contribute to programming of stress-sensitive neurons by neonatal experience, promoting resilience.
    23, p. 648-657 2018
  • Epilepsia
    Simeone KA, Hallgren J, Bockman CS, Aggarwal A, Kansal V, Netzel L, Iyer SH, Matthews SA, Deodhar M, Oldenburg PJ, Abel PW, Simeone TA. Respiratory dysfunction progresses with age in Kcna1-null mice, a model of sudden death in epilepsy.
    59, p. 345-357 2018
  • Epilepsia
    Iyer SH, Matthews SA, Simeone TA, Maganti R, Simeone KA. Accumulation of rest deficiency precedes sudden death of epileptic Kv1.1 knockout mice, a model of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
    59, p. 92-105 2018
  • Epilepsia
    Iyer SH, Matthews SA, Simeone TA, Maganti R, Simeone KA. Accumulation of rest deficiency precedes sudden death of epileptic Kv1.1 knockout mice, a model of SUDEP.
    59, p. 92-105 2018
  • Epilepsia
    Simeone TA, Matthews SA, Simeone KA. Synergistic protection against acute flurothyl-induced seizures by adjuvant treatment of the ketogenic diet with the type 2 diabetes drug pioglitazone. 
    58, p. 1440-1450 2017
  • Neurochemical Research
    Simeone TA, Simeone KA, Rho JM. Ketone Bodies as Anti-Seizure Agents.
    42, p. 2011-2018 2017
  • Epilepsia
    Kerrigan JF, Parsons A, Tsang C, Simeone K, Coons S, Wu J.Hypothalamic hamartoma: Neuropathology and epileptogenesis.
    2, p. 22-31 2017
  • Experimental Neurology
    Simeone TA, Matthews SA, Samson KK, Simeone KA. Regulation of brain PPARgamma contributes to ketogenic diet anti-seizure efficacy.
    57, p. 178-182 2017
  • Epilepsia
    Simeone KA, Matthews SA, Rho JM, Simeone TA. Ketogenic diet treatment increases longevity in Kcna1-null mice, a model of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
    57, p. 178-82 2016
  • Sleep
    Roundtree HM, Simeone TA, Johnson CJ, Matthews SA, Samson KK, Simeone KA. Orexin receptor antagonism improves sleep and reduces seizures in Kcna1-null mice.
    39, p. 357-368 2016
  • Oxford University Press
    Simeone KA, Johnson CJ, Samson KK, Roundtree HM, Simeone TA, Tarhok LA. Sleep In Masino & Boison (Eds), Brain Homeostasis. Oxford Press. 2015
  • Annals of Neurology
    Kim DY*, Simeone KA*, Simeone TA, Pandya J, Wilke J, Ahn Y, Geddes J, Sullivan PG, Rho JM (2015). Ketone Bodies Mediate Anti-Seizure Effects Through mPT
    doi: 10.1002/ana.24424. , p. [Epub ahead of print]. 2015
  • Epilepsia
    In vivo ketogenic diet treatment attenuates pathologic sharp waves and high frequency oscillations in in vitro hippocampal slices from epileptic Kv 1.1α knockout mice. Simeone TA, Samson KK, Matthews SA, Simeone KA
    55(5), p. 44-49 2014
  • Experimental Neurology
    Targeting deficiencies in mitochondrial respiratory complex I and functional uncoupling exerts anti-seizure effects in a genetic model of temporal lobe epilepsy and in a model of acute temporal lobe seizures. Simeone KA, Matthews SA, Samson KK, Simeone TA.
    251, p. 84-90 2014
  • Neurobiology of Disease
    Loss of the Kv1.1 potassium channel promotes pathologic sharp waves and high frequency oscillations in in vitro hippocampal slices. Simeone TA, Simeone KA, Samson KK, Kim do Y, Rho JM.
    54, p. 68-81 2013
  • Neurobiology of Disease
    Simeone TA, Simeone KA, Samson KK, Kim DY, Rho JM (2013) Loss of the Kv1.1 potassium channel promotes pathologic sharp waves and high frequency oscillations in in vitro hippocampal slices.
    54, p. 68-81 2013
  • Not Applicable
    Hypothalamic hamartomas: neuropathological features with and without prior gamma knife radiosurgery. Kerrigan JF, Parsons A, Rice SG, Simeone KA, Shetter AG, Abla AA, Prenger E, Coons SW.
    91(1) 2013
  • Epilepsia
    L-Type calcium channel blockade reduces network activity in human epileptic hypothalamic hamartoma tissue. Simeone KA, Sabesan S, Kim do Y, Kerrigan JF, Rho JM, Simeone TA.
    52, p. 531-540 2011
  • Hormone Research in Paediatrics
    Chan YM, K.A. Fenoglio-Simeone, S. Paraschos, L. Muhammad, M.M. Troester, Y.Y. Ng, R.E. Johnsonbaugh, S.W. Coons, E.C. Prenger, J.F. Kerrigan, S.B. Seminara. Central precocious puberty due to hypothalamic hamartomas correlates with anatomic features but not with expression of GnRH, TGFalpha, or KISS1.
    73, p. 312-319 2010
  • Experimental Neurology
    Head E, V.N. Nukala, K.A. Fenoglio, B.A. Muggenburg, C.W. Cotman, P.G. Sullivan. Effects of age, dietary, and behavioral enrichment on brain mitochondria in a canine model of human aging.
    220 (1), p. 171-6 2009
  • Epilepsy and Behavior
    Fenoglio-Simeone K.A., A. Mazarati, S. Sefidvash-Hockley, D. Shin, J. Wilke, H. Milligan, R. Sankar, J.M. Rho, R. Maganti. Anticonvulsant effects of the selective melatonin receptor agonist ramelteon.
    16 (1), p. 52-7 2009
  • Epilepsia
    Fenoglio-Simeone K.A., J.C.Wilke, H.L. Milligan, C.N. Allen, J.M. Rho, R.K. Maganti. Ketogenic Diet Treatment Improves Diurnal Rhythmicity and Abolishes Seizure Periodicity in Epileptic Kcna1-null Mice.
    50 (9), p. 2027-34 2009
  • Epilepsy Research
    Kim DY, Fenoglio (Simeone) KA, Kerrigan JF, Rho JM. Bicarbonate contributes to GABAA receptor-mediated neuronal excitation in surgically resected human hypothalamic hamartomas.
    83 (1), p. 89-93 2009

Publications

  • 64th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society
    Pathologic Mitochondria and Refractory Epilepsy: Carbamazepine (CBZ) Directly Modulates Mitochondrial Function in Wild-Type and Epileptic Mice. KA Simeone, JM Rho, N Jain, TA Simeone. 2010
  • ‘Creighton Pharmacology Professors Probe Mysteries Surrounding Epilepsy'. Interviewed by CUSOM Newsletter to discuss our latest research of how food can have anti-seizure effects in epilepsy. http://medschool.creighton.edu/medicine/newscurrent/simeones/index.php
  • ‘Exploring Epilepsy’ Onwards and Upwards. Interviewed by International Innovation. 174: 109-111. http://www.internationalinnovation.com/exploring-epilepsy/

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-I

  • Adenosine, 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
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