Ahmed Eltokhi, MSc, PhD

Education

  • BS, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ain Shams University
  • MSc, Neuroscience, Bonn University, Germany
  • PhD, Biology/Neuroscience, Heidelberg University/Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
  • Postdoctoral Study, Neuroscience, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research
  • Postdoctoral Study, Neuroscience/Pharmacology, University of Washington

Research Interest

Dr. Eltokhi’s lab investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropsychiatric disorders, focusing primarily on autism and neurological diseases such as epilepsy. His research extends across axonal and synaptic levels, aiming to dissect the complex mechanisms of these conditions and their comorbidities. Using cell culture techniques and rodent models engineered with mutations in key components, including voltage-gated ion channels like the Voltage-gated Sodium channel and synaptic proteins such as SHANK and AMPA receptors—mirroring those identified in patients—Dr. Eltokhi employs a multi-faceted approach, combining behavioral assessments, electrophysiological studies, and molecular biology techniques. The primary goal of Dr. Eltokhi’s lab is to identify shared pathophysiological mechanisms across neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders that can be targeted for therapeutic interventions.

Selected Publications

  • Ismail H, Abdalla SM, Carman ZT, Sherif M, Lundstrom BN, Eltokhi A. Autism-related phenotypes in a heterozygous Scn2aR854Q mouse model and their partial rescue via a potassium channel opener. Neuropharmacology. 2026 Jun 1;290:110889. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2026.110889. Epub 2026 Feb 20. PMID: 41724236.
  • Casteel C, Prajapati AP, Pitzer C, Sprengel R, Eltokhi A. SHANK2A overexpression in forebrain neurons induces early-life communication deficits in mice. Behav Brain Res. 2026 Aug 24;512:116295. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116295. Epub 2026 May 24. PMID: 42184860.
  • Eltokhi A, Elhanafy E, Li J, Gamal El-Din TM. Investigation and computational prediction of gating pore currents in NaV1.2 mutations across clinical phenotypes. PNAS Nexus. 2026 Jul 2;5(7):pgag230. doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag230. PMID: 42416924; PMCID: PMC13340926.
  • Eltokhi A, Gamal El-Din TM. Two pores instead of one: Gating pore current and the electrical leak in autism and epilepsy. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2025 Mar 20;137:111291. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111291. Epub 2025 Feb 11. PMID: 39947579.
  • Eltokhi A, Lundstrom BN, Li J, Zweifel LS, Catterall WA, Gamal El-Din TM. Pathogenic gating pore current conducted by autism-related mutations in the NaV1.2 brain sodium channel. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Apr 9;121(15):e2317769121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2317769121. Epub 2024 Apr 2. PMID: 38564633.
  • Eltokhi A., Bertocchi I., Rozov A., Jensen V., Borchardt T., Taylor A., Proenca CC., Rawlins JNP., Bannerman DM., Sprengel R. Distinct effects of AMPAR subunit depletion on spatial memory. iScience. 2023 Oct 1;26(11):108116. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108116. PMID: 37876813; PMCID: PMC10590979.
  • Eltokhi A, Catterall WA, Gamal El-Din TM. Cell-cycle arrest at the G1/S boundary enhances transient voltage-gated ion channel expression in human and insect cells. Cell Rep Methods. 2023 Sep 25;3(9):100559. doi: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100559. Epub 2023 Aug 18. PMID: 37751687; PMCID: PMC10545908.
  • Pitzer C#, Kurpiers B, Eltokhi A#. Sex Differences in Depression-Like Behaviors in Adult Mice Depend on Endophenotype and Strain. Front Behav Neurosci. 2022 Mar 17;16:838122. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.838122. PMID: 35368297; PMCID: PMC8969904. #co-corresponding authors.
  • Pitzer C#, Kurpiers B, Eltokhi A#. Gait performance of adolescent mice assessed by the CatWalk XT depends on age, strain and sex and correlates with speed and body weight. Sci Rep. 2021 Nov 1;11(1):21372. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-00625-8. PMID: 34725364; PMCID: PMC8560926. #co-corresponding authors.
  • Eltokhi A#, Kurpiers B, Pitzer C#. Baseline Depression-Like Behaviors in Wild-Type Adolescent Mice Are Strain and Age but Not Sex Dependent. Front Behav Neurosci. 2021 Oct 7;15:759574. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.759574. PMID: 34690714; PMCID: PMC8529326. #co-corresponding authors.

Click here to see the full list of Dr. Eltokhi’s work.

Grants

  • American Epilepsy Society Junior Investigator Grant (2026-2027)
  • NARSAD Young Investigator Grant from Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (2023-2026)
  • Profound Autism Pilot Grant from the Autism Science foundation (2025-2026)

Professional Involvement

  • Biophysical Society
  • International Behavioral Neuroscience Society
  • Society for Neuroscience

Contact Dr. Ahmed Eltokhi

eltokhi_a@mercer.edu