Kelly M. Standifer, Ph.D.

Professor and Chair

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Phone (405) 271-6593 x47333

Fax (405) 271-7505

Office CPB 329

Email kelly-standifer@ouhsc.edu

Summary

Our research goals are to develop a therapeutic treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and co-morbid conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), impaired learning and memory and pain. The newest member of the opioid receptor family, nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide receptor (NOP; also known as ORL1 and KOR3), and its endogenous agonist, nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ), bi-directionally modulate CNS and immune system functions, including (but not limited to) pain sensitivity, anxiety, cognition and monocyte chemotaxis. N/OFQ appears to function as a physiological modulator, trying to restore homeostasis. Over the last 15 years, our lab has examined the role of N/OFQ/NOP in three devastating physiological conditions: TBI, PTSD and chronic pain. We found that N/OFQ levels increase in various brain regions, CSF and/or serum over time following TBI, traumatic stress or chronic nerve injury. We hypothesize that the N/OFQ/NOP system becomes dysregulated, either in response to, or because of these conditions. We’ve employed a variety of approaches to study receptor activity and NOP/N/OFQ expression in vitro and in vivo. This includes use of cell lines from different cell types, and male and female rats that express functional or non-functional NOP receptors. We found that elevated levels of N/OFQ are associated with vestibular deficits following TBI, and with allodynia following exposure to a traumatic stress. A single, acute injection of NOP antagonist within 30 min of TBI delayed the appearance of vestibular deficits but prevented the development of oxidative damage 9 days later (Awwad et al., 2018). Similarly, administration of NOP antagonist 7 days following exposure to traumatic stress reverses persistent hyperalgesia caused by traumatic stress (Zhang et al., 2015).  Loss of a functional NOP receptor in male rats was protective from traumatic stress-induced hyperalgesia, failed to provide the same relief in female rats (Zhang et al., 2019), and reduced the severity and recovery time from TBI in male and female rats (Al Yacoub et al., 2024).  As a result, we utilize two different models of TBI (focal impact and concussive) and a model of PTSD to interrogate the ability of NOP receptor partial agonists prevent or reverse TBI- and/or PTSD-induced vestibular and cognitive deficits, anxiety-like behaviors and hyperalgesia.    


Publications & Presentations

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    1. Al Yacoub O N, Zhang Y, Patankar P S, Standifer K. Traumatic Brain Injury Induces Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ and Nociceptin Opioid Peptide Receptor Expression within 24 Hours. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25

    2. Al Yacoub O N, Tarantini S, Zhang Y, Csiszar A, Standifer K. The Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ peptide receptor antagonist, SB-612111, improves cerebral blood flow in a rat model of traumatic brain injury. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2023; 14 : 1272969

    3. Al Yacoub O N, Awwad H O, Standifer K. Recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) is Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor genotype-, sex-, and injury severity-dependent. The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics. 2023

    4. Al Yacoub O N, Awwad H O, Zhang Y, Standifer K. Therapeutic potential of nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor modulators for treatment of traumatic brain injury, traumatic stress, and their co-morbidities. Pharmacology & therapeutics. 2022; 231 : 107982

    5. Dib P, Zhang Y, Schalo I, Durand C, Ihnat M, Gallucci R, Standifer K M. TNF-α initiates allodynia and anxiety-like symptoms in a preclinical model of PTSD and co-morbid pain. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology . 2021; 12 : 721999

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Grants

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    16. Molecular mechanisms of chronic pain and its modulation by posttraumatic stress disorder and Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ. DOD. Start Date: 2011. End Date: 2015.

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Awards and Honors

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                                                                                            6. University of Houston Beta Omicron Chapter. Rho Chi Honor Society Induction. Date: 2003.  

                                                                                            7. University of Houston. Awarded Tenure. Date: 2001.  

                                                                                            8. University of Houston College of Pharmacy. Faculty Achievement Award. Date: 2001.  

                                                                                            9. The Scientist. 'Hot Paper' Recognition. Date: 1996.  

                                                                                            10. University of Houston College of Pharmacy. Faculty Achievement Award. Date: 1996.  

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Education
 
                               
                                                            
                        
                                                                                            1.  Degree: Postdoctoral Training. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Date: 1990.  

                                                                                            2.  Degree: Ph D. University of Florida . Date: 1988.  

                                                                                            3.  Degree: BS. Duke University. Date: 1984.  

                                                                                            4.  Degree: Associate of Natural Science. St. Gregory's College. Date: 1982.  




                        		 
                                                                                  
                        
                                                                               
 
                   
 
                
     
                
                 	                                        
                    
                                            	                           
                                                
                                                                                                                                                                               
Administrative Assignments

                                  
                                                           
                        
                                                
     1. Role: Department Chairperson. Scope: Department. Description: Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. Date: 2009.
                                                
     2. Role: Department Vice-Chair. Scope: Department. Description: Dept Pharmacological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Houston, College of Pharmacy. Date: 2003.