Nnamdi E. Edokobi, PhD

Nnamdi’s doctoral research specialized in neuro-cardiac mechanisms of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). His work investigated neuronal and cardiac function, through the use of molecular, biochemical, and electrophysiological approaches, in animal and stem cell models of developmental pediatric epilepsy. He received numerous research grants throughout the pursuit of his doctorate degree. Most recently, Nnamdi received a research grant from the Translational Cardiovascular Research and Entrepreneurship Training Program (T32). While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Nnamdi was a research assistant at the University of Maryland Medical School. In this position, he contributed to a publication that determined the therapeutic effects of RANK-L inhibition in a Breast Cancer Gene-1 (Brca1) mouse model.

• “Sodium channel β1 subunits participate in regulated intramembrane proteolysis-excitation coupling,” co-author, JCI Insight, January 2021
• “Scn1b deletion results in sinoatrial node dysfunction, atrial remodeling, and increased susceptibility to atrial fibrillation in neonates.,” presenter, Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, December 2020
• “Sodium channel β1 subunits are post-translationally modified by tyrosine phosphorylation, S-palmitoylation, and regulated intramembrane proteolysis,” co-author, Journal of Biological Chemistry, June 2020
• “Characterizing SUDEP Biomarkers in SCN1B-linked Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy (DEE) Patient-Derived Cardiac Myocytes,” presenter, Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, December 2019
• “Characterizing Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy Biomarker in Dravet Syndrome Patient-Derived Cardiac Myocytes,” presenter, Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms Gordon Research Conference, March 2019
• “Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel β1/β1B Subunits Regulate Cardiac Physiology and Pathophysiology,” first author, Frontiers in Physiology, April 2018
• “RANKL/RANK control Brca1 mutation-driven mammary tumors,” co-author, Cell Research
• “Examining the RANK-L Inhibitor as a Potential Targeted Therapy in Brca1 mutant mice,” presenter, Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research