KAREN S WILCOX portrait
  • Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Professor, Pharmacology And Toxicology

Research Statement

The Wilcox laboratory is interested in understanding basic mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis, seizure generation, and therapy-resistance to anticonvulsant drugs. To achieve these goals, we use electrophysiological, calcium imaging, pharmacological, behavioral, genetic, immunoblot, and immunohistochemical techniques in a variety of in vitro preparations and animal models of epilepsy. Our working hypothesis is that insight into disease-induced changes in neuronal and glial function will provide new avenues for therapeutic interventions in patients at risk for developing epilepsy or those patients who are refractory to current treatment options. To that end, I am also the Director of the Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program which serves as the contract site for the Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program at NINDS at the National Institutes of Health.

Presentations

  • University of California, Davis, “Glial and immune contributions to infection-induced seizures in a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy.” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 06/2023.
  • ASENT Annual Meeting, “New directions for therapy development for the person with unmet clinical needs in epilepsy.”. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 04/2023.
  • University of Utah, Skaggs Symposium Keynote Address, “New directions for therapy development for the person with unmet clinical needs in epilepsy.”. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 08/2022.
  • NIH Clinical Grand Rounds, Virtual Meeting, “New Directions for the NINDS-Funded Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program Contract Site.” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 10/2021.
  • SUNY UPSTATE, Virtual Meeting, Keynote speaker, Neuroscience Retreat, “CNS infection-induced neural circuit changes, cytokine activation, and epilepsy” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 09/2021.
  • SUNY UPSTATE, Virtual Meeting, Neuroscience Retreat, Career Development Panel, “Navigating success with mentors and sponsors.” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 09/2021.
  • ILAE Congress, Virtual Meeting, Paris, “Mechanisms of Status Epilepticus.” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 08/2021.
  • ILAE Congress, Virtual Meeting, Paris, “Pathophysiology and Outcomes of Status epilepticus (SE) in animal models”. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 08/2021.
  • Young Epilepsy Investigators, “The future hiring environment for basic science researchers.”. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 07/2021.
  • Chinese Association Against Epilepsy, “New Directions for the NINDS-Funded Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program Contract Site” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 05/2021.
  • World Wide Neuro Experimental Epilepsy, “New Directions for the NINDS-Funded Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program Contract Site.” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 01/2021.
  • Tufts University Neuroscience Retreat, “Navigating success with mentors and sponsors.” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 01/2021.
  • American Epilepsy Society, Special Interest Group, “New Directions for the NINDS-Funded Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program Contract Site”, . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 12/2020.
  • Tufts University. “CNS infection-induced neural circuit changes, cytokine activation, and epilepsy.” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 11/2020.
  • Future Neuro Clinical Conference, “New Directions for the NINDS-Funded Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program Contract Site.” . Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 09/2020.

Grants, Contracts & Research Gifts

  • Screening of Investigational Compounds to Treat, Modify or Prevent Epilepsy for the NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP). PI: Wilcox, K.S. NIH/NINDS, 03/23/2022 - 03/31/2027. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Role of microglia in a novel model of temporal lobe epilepsy. PI: Wilcox, K.S. NIH/NINDS, 04/01/2019 - 03/31/2027. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Landis Outstanding Mentor Award Supplement. PI: Wilcox, KS. NIH/NINDs, 08/01/2022 - 04/30/2024. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • The Neuroimmunology Training Program at the University. PI: Wilcox, K.S. and O’Connell, R. NIH/NINDS, 07/15/2020 - 06/30/2025. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Intermountain Doctoral Education to Advance Students (IDEAS) in Neuroscience. PI: Wilcox, K.S. and O’Connell. NIH/NINDS, 12/01/2022 - 11/30/2026. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Characterization of kindled VGAT-CRE mice as a new animal model of temporal lobe epilepsy. PI: Perez-Reyes, E. NIH/NINDS and University of Virginia, 08/01/2023 - 04/30/2024. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • NG2 Glial Cells: Potential Masters of Brain Inflammation. PI: Wilcox, K.S. ALSAM Foundation Award, 08/01/2021 - 07/30/2023. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Screening of Investigational Compounds to Treat, Modify or Prevent Epilepsy for the NINDS Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program (ETSP). PI: Wilcox, K.S. NIH/NINDS, 09/30/2016 - 03/22/2022. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Astrocyte-mediated glutamate transport in dorsal striatum associated with habitual cocaine seeking. PI: Keefe, KA and Wilcox, KS. NIH/NIDA, 02/01/2019 - 01/30/2022. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Metabolic therapy in a mouse model of Dravet Syndrome. PI: Wilcox, KS and Patel, M. Skaggs Scholar Grant, 08/01/2019 - 07/31/2022. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Development of new anti-epilepsy therapies targeting cellular energetics through mitochondrial modulation with optimal pharma. PI: Wilcox, KS. NIH/NINDS, 07/01/2018 - 07/31/2021. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Virus-Host Interactions that Lead to Epilepsy. PI: R. Fujinami. NINDS/NIH, 07/01/2014 - 06/30/2019. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Generation of a novel rat model of hypothalamic hamartomas. PI: K. S. Wilcox and Peter J. West. Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartoma Foundation Award, 04/01/2017 - 03/31/2018. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Calcium Signaling in a Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. PI: K.S. Wilcox & John A. White. NINDS/NIH, 09/01/2012 - 11/30/2017. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • Identification and Characterization of Novel Therapeutics for the Treatment and Prevention of Epilepsy and Neuroprotectants as Counter Measures (CM) to Chemical Threats. PI: Wilcox, KS. NINDS/NIH, 09/30/2011 - 09/29/2016. Total project budget to date: $0.00
  • ADD Program Symposium. PI: Wilcox, K.S. NINDS/NIH, 04/01/2015 - 03/31/2016. Total project budget to date: $0.00

Languages

  • English, fluent.

Publications

  • Anderson, D.N. & Charlebois, C.M., Smith, E.H., Davis, T.S., Peters, A.Y., Newman, B.J., Arain, A.M., Wilcox, K.S., Butson, C.R., Rolston, J.D. (2023). Closed-loop stimulation in periods with less epileptiform activity drives improved epilepsy outcomes. Brain. Published, 10/05/2023.
  • Giangrasso, D.M. & Veros, KM, Timm, MM, West, P.J, Wilcox, K.S., Keefe, K.A. (2023). Glutamate dynamics in the dorsolateral striatum of rats with goal-directed and habitual cocaine-seeking behavior. Front Mol Neurosci. Published, 05/2023.
  • Metcalf, C.S. & West, P.J., Edwards, S.E. and Wilcox, K.S. (2023). New Models for Assessment of Antiseizure Activity. Jasper’s Basic Mechanisms of Epilepsy. Published, 01/2023.
  • Batot, G. & Metcalf, C.S., Bell, L.A., Pauletti, A., Wilcox, K.S., Bröer, S. A (2022). Model for Epilepsy of Infectious Etiology using Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus. J Vis Exp. Published, 06/23/2022.
  • West, P.J. & Thomson, K., Billingsley, P., Pruess, T., Rueda, C., Saunders, G.W., Smith, M.D., Metcalf, C.S., Wilcox, K.S. (2022). Spontaneous recurrent seizures in an intra-amygdala kainate microinjection model of temporal lobe epilepsy are differentially sensitive to antiseizure drugs. Exp Neurol. Published, 03/2022.
  • Mensah, J.A. & Johnson, K., Reilly, C.A., Wilcox, K.S., Rower, J.E., Metcalf, C.S. (2022). Evaluating the efficacy of prototype antiseizure drugs using a preclinical pharmacokinetic approach. Epilepsia. Published, 01/2022.
  • Metcalf, C.S. & Vanegas, F., Underwood, T., Johnson, K., West, P.J., Smith, M.D., Wilcox, K.S. (2021). Screening of prototype antiseizure and anti-inflammatory compounds in the Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus model of epilepsy. Epilepsia Open. Published, 10/2021.
  • DePaula-Silva, A.B. & Bell, L.A., Wallis, G.J., Wilcox, K.S. (2021). Inflammation Unleashed in Viral-Induced Epileptogenesis. Epilepsy Curr. Published, 08/27/2021.
  • Galanopoulou, A.S. & Löscher, W., Lubbers, L., O'Brien, T.J., Staley, K., Vezzani, A., D'Ambrosio, R., White, H.S., Sontheimer, H., Wolf, J.A., Twyman, R., Whittemore, V., Wilcox K.S., Klein, B (2021). Antiepileptogenesis and disease modification: Progress, challenges, and the path forward-Report of the Preclinical Working Group of the 2018 NINDS-sponsored antiepileptogenesis and disease modification workshop. Epilepsia Open. Published, 01/2021.
  • Simonato, M. & Agoston, D.V., Brooks-Kayal, A., Dulla, C., Fureman, B., Henshall, D.C., Pitkänen, A., Theodore, W.H., Twyman, R.E., Kobeissy, F.H., Wang, K.K., Whittemore, V. & Wilcox, K.S (2021). Identification of clinically relevant biomarkers of epileptogenesis — a strategic roadmap. Nat Rev Neurol. Published, 01/2021.
  • Pernici, C.D & Mensah, J.A., Dahle, E.J., Johnson, K.J., Handy, L., Buxton, L., Smith, M.D., West, P.J., Metcalf, C.S., Wilcox, K.S. (2021). Development of an antiseizure drug screening platform for Dravet syndrome at the NINDS contract site for the Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program. Epilepsia. Published, 01/2021.
  • Barker-Haliski & M., Knox, K., Zierath, D., Koneval, Z., Metcalf, C., Wilcox, K.S., White, H.S. (2021). Development of an antiepileptogenesis drug screening platform: Effects of everolimus and phenobarbital. Epilepsia. Published, 01/2021.
  • Li, X. & Himes, R.A., Prosser, L.C., Christie, C.F., Watt, E., Edwards, S.F., Metcalf, C.S., West, P.J., Wilcox, K.S., Chan, S.S.L., Chou, C.J. (2020). Discovery of the First Vitamin K Analogue as a Potential Treatment of Pharmacoresistant Seizures. J Med Chem. Published, 06/2020.
  • Clarkson, C. & Smeal, R.M., Hasenoehrl, M.G., White, J.A., Rubio, M.E., Wilcox, K.S. (2020). Ultrastructural and functional changes at the tripartite synapse during epileptogenesis in a model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Exp Neurol. Published, 01/2020.
  • Bell, L.A. & Wallis, G.J., Wilcox, K.S. (2020). Reactivity and increased proliferation of NG2 cells following central nervous system infection with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. J. Neuroinflam. Published, 01/2020.
  • Wilcox, K.S. & West, P.J., Metcalf, C.S (2020). The current approach of the Epilepsy Therapy Screening Program contract site for identifying improved therapies for the treatment of pharmacoresistant seizures in epilepsy. Neuropharmacology. Published, 01/2020.