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College of Pharmacy

College of Pharmacy

Faculty Profile

Samina SalimSamina Salim

Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Office: 
探花视频 College of Pharmacy
Health 2, Room 5019
4349 Martin Luther King Boulevard
Houston, TX 77204-5037

Contact: ssalim@uh.edu - 713-743-1776

Research:

My life-long goal is to study, contribute and advance an approach that situates the topic of health within a neuro-socioecological context, thus incorporating methodologies and conceptual apparatus from various disciplines to target health from vantage points of basic neuroscience, ethnic and racial contexts of communities and society. As a scientist, I have extensive experience in basic neuroscience work focused on neurobehavioral studies, but my core interests are anchored in the real-life domains of health, social, and human phenomena that could be empirically studied and understood to improve mental health and general well-being. Pursuing this line of work and building on my basic neuroscience expertise, I have initiated large scale population-based self-report data collection work in refugee populations in the greater Houston area. Within this framework, I work extensively on biological, methodological, theoretical, and empirical anchoring of the constructs of social participation, social support, post-migratory living conditions, and trauma susceptibility and resiliency among refugees. My work is presently focused on two areas: basic neuroscience work and the design of longitudinal studies of refugee health delineating the process of post-resettlement change in health in relation to social contexts. Through this work, I have initiated extensive collaborations with the civil society, and national and local non-profit organizations.

  • B.S, Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
  • M.S., Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
  • Ph.D., Biochemistry, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
  • Post-doctoral Fellow, Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX; and Department of Medical Biochemistry Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden


  • Atrooz F, Alrousan G, Hassan A, Salim S. Early-Life Sleep Deprivation Enhanced Alcohol Consumption in Adolescent Rats. Front Neurosci. 2022 Apr 25;16:856120. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.856120. PMID: 35546871; PMCID: PMC9081815.
  • Alrousan G, Hassan A, Pillai AA, Atrooz F, Salim S. Early Life Sleep Deprivation and Brain Development: Insights From Human and Animal Studies. Front Neurosci. 2022 May 3;16:833786. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.833786. PMID: 35592259; PMCID: PMC9111737.
  • Atrooz F, Chen TA, Biekman B, Alrousan G, Bick J, Salim S. Displacement and Isolation: Insights from a Mental Stress Survey of Syrian Refugees in Houston, Texas, USA. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Feb 22;19(5):2547. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19052547. PMID: 35270240; PMCID: PMC8909545.
  • Zamil J, Atrooz F, Majd Z, Zeidat S, Alrousan G, Abughosh S, Salim S. Perception Regarding Knowledge of COVID-19 Prevention in a Sample of a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Community in Houston, Texas, USA. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 4;19(1):524. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19010524. PMID: 35010783; PMCID: PMC8744562.
  • Dependent Behavioral Deficits in Rats. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2021 Apr 15;86:103660. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2021.103660. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33865999
  • Aditi Marwaha, Marjan Zakeri, Sujit Sansgiry and Samina Salim. Combined Effect of Different Teaching Strategies on Student Performance in a Large-Enrollment Undergraduate Health Sciences Class. Adv Physiol Educ. 2021 Sep 1;45(3):454-460. doi: 10.1152/advan.00030.2021.PMID: 34124955
  • Samina Salim*. The Stress Of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Beyond the Data. Current Neuropharmacology, 2021 March 10, Online ahead of print
  • Kochi C, Pokkunuri I, Salvi A, Asghar M and Salim S*. Simulated vehicle exhaust exposure (SVEE) in rats impairs renal mitochondrial function. Clinical and Experimental Hypertension https://doi.org/10.1080/10641963.2020.1766059, May 20, 2020.
  • Safiyya Zaidi, Fatin Atrooz , Daniel Valdez, Hesong Liu, Camila Kochi, Richard A. Bond and Samina Salim*. Protective Effect of Propranolol and Nadolol on Social Defeat-Induced Behavioral Impairments in Rats. Neurosci Lett. 2020 Mar 9;725:134892. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.134892.
  • Ankita Salvi, Camila Kochi and Samina Salim*. Involvement Of Oxidative Stress And Mitochondrial Mechanisms In Air Pollution-Related Neurobiological Impairments. Neurobiology of Stress. 12 (2020), 100205
  • Atrooz F, and Salim S*. Assessment of sleep and wakefulness pattern in an animalmodel of early life sleep deprivation. International Journal of Advances in Science, Engineering and Technology Vol 8, Issue 1, 2020.
  • Atrooz F, and Salim S*. Sleep deprivation, oxidative stress and inflammation. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol. 2020;119:309-336. doi: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2019.03.001. Epub 2019 Apr 24. PubMed PMID: 31997771
  • Atrooz F, Liu H, Salim S*. Stress, psychiatric disorders, molecular targets, and more. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2019;167:77-105. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.06.006. Epub 2019 Jul 13. PubMed PMID: 31601407.
  • Salvi A, Salim S*. Neurobehavioral Consequences of Traffic-Related Air Pollution. Front Neurosci. 2019 Nov 21;13:1232. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01232. eCollection 2019. Review. PubMed PMID: 31824243; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6881276. [Impact Factor: 4.2]
  • Atrooz F, Liu H, Kochi C, Salim S*. Early Life Sleep Deprivation: Role of Oxido-Inflammatory Processes. Neuroscience. 2019 Mar 1;406:22-37. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.02.021. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30826520.
  • Liu H, Patki G, Salvi A, Kelly M, Salim S*. Behavioral effects of early life maternal trauma witness in rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2018 Feb 2;81:80-87. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.10.013. PubMed PMID: 29074097.
  • Salvi, A, Patki, G, Liu H and Salim S*. Psychological Impact of Vehicle Exhaust Exposure: Insights from an Animal Model. Scientific reports Nature Publishing Group, August 16, 2017 DOI : 10.1038/s41598-017-08859-1 SREP-17.
  • Liu H, Patki G, Salvi, A, Kelly M and Salim S*. Behavioral Effects of Early Life Maternal Trauma Witness In Rats. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2018, February 2; 81:80-87.
  • Liu H, Atrooz F, Salvi A, Salim S*. Behavioral and cognitive impact of early life stress: Insights from an animal model. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2017 Aug 1;78:88-95. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.05.015. Epub 2017 May 17. PubMed PMID: 28527907.

Editorial Board Appointments

  • Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
  • Physiology and Behavior, Elsevier
  • Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group

Lectures

  • Invited Speaker, UH-HEART workshop on scientific writing, 06/15/21, 探花视频, TX
  • Invited Speaker, Mental Health Research Consortium Symposium, 09/16/2020, Houston, TX
  • Invited Speaker, NeuroTalk, Osaka, Japan, May 12-14th, 2019.
  • Speaker and session organizer, A Place For Us, Empower Women Conference, 探花视频, March 1st, 2019
  • Invited Speaker, Session Chair. International Conference on future diagnostic therapeutic and theranostics modalities, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, India, Dec 29-31, 2018
  • Panel Chair and Session Organizer, ;Everyday Leadership, Empower Women Conference, 探花视频, March 2nd, 2018
  • Invited Speaker, International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS) Meeting, May 16th, 2017, St. Petersburg, Russia.
  • Invited Speaker, Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), August 2-3, 2017, Irbid, Jordan
  • Selected speaker, Assistant Professor Excellence Speaker Series (Apex) organized by 探花视频 faculty senate, April 27, 2016.
  • Symposium speaker and session chair, Session title: Stress and Behavior, Budapest, Hungary, June 7-9, 2016, International Society of Behavioral Neuroscience (IBNS) annual meeting.
  • Invited speaker, 4th Global Experts Meeting on Neuropharmacology, September 15-17, 2016, San Antonio, USA
  • Invited speaker, Association of Scientists of Indian Origin (ASIO), Orlando, Florida, January, 2015
  • 1st Global Conference of Biological Psychiatry, New Delhi, India. Why Persistent Psychological Stress Contributes to Anxiety, Depression and Cognitive Impairment? (September, 2014).
  • 1st Annual Graduate Research and Scholarship Projects (GRaSP) Day prep talk, 探花视频, IT IS NOT WHAT YOU SAY, IT IS HOW YOU SAY IT, Facilitated by Samina Salim, 09/12/2014,
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health, UTMB, Galveston, TX 10/30/13
  • Biology Colloquium, Department of Biology UH Downtown, TX, 02-15-2013
  • Department of Biology and Biochemistry, 探花视频, 03-18-2013
  • Basic Medical Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, 10-06-2011
  • Invited speaker, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual meeting special panel, Oxidative Stress in Psychiatric Disorders: Implications for Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy, Miami, FL, Dec 5-9, 2010
  • Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Toledo, Ohio, June 16th, 2009
  • Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, April 16th, 2009
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 22nd, 2008
  • College of Pharmacy, 探花视频, TX. Sept 11, 2007
  • Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, UTHSC, Houston, TX. Oct, 5th 2007.
  • Emerging Investigators Symposium, sponsored by Houston Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Houston, TX, May 21, 2007
  • Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, UTHSC, Houston, TX. 04-08-02, 02-11-03

Research Recognition

  • 2007 Special citation of the publication Salim, S. and Eikenburg, DC. J. Phamacol. Exptl. Ther. 320:1106-1112, featured in the Nascent Transcripts Emerging concepts from the recent literature, Molecular Interventions, Vol 7(1)
  • 2009 Special citation on SFN publication, "Why exercise makes you less anxious?", New York Times, November, 18, 2009
  • 2010 Research featured in Katy Newspaper, 04/15/2010
  • 2010 Research featured in 探花视频 newspaper, The Daily Cougar, 04/02/2010
  • 2010 UH media release covering national recognition, April 2010
  • 2013 Publication entitled, "Grape Powder Supplementation Prevents Oxidative Stress-Induced Anxiety-Like Behavior, Memory Impairment and High Blood Pressure in Rats" selected by The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) for video JN video pubcast
  • 2015 Featured in "Pharmacologist," a newsletter of the ASPET, December issue.
  • 2021 Featured, Author Q&A, Elsevier Inc. 01/01/2021 https://www.journals.elsevier.com/current-research-in-neurobiology/author-interviews/author-qa-understanding-stress-insights-from-rodent-models

Honors

  • 2021 Advisor-in-Residence, LEdBy Foundation (set up with seed funding from the Social Innovation and Change Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University).
  • 2020-23 Inducted, Fulbright Specialist Roster
  • 2019 Inducted, Mading Society, College of Pharmacy, 探花视频
  • 2019 Rho Chi Teaching Excellence Award, College of Pharmacy, 探花视频
  • 2019 Metro Award for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration
  • 2019 Provost's Travel Award, 探花视频
  • 2019 Member, 2019-2020 探花视频 Cougar Chairs Leadership Academy (CCLA)
  • 2017 Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Pharmacy, 探花视频, TX
  • 2017 Induction Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society of International Scholars
  • 2017 Provost's Travel Award, 探花视频
  • 2017 Table leader, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Women Luncheon
  • 2017 Session Chair, International Stress and Behavior Society (ISBS) Meeting, May 16th, 2017, St. Petersburg, Russia.
  • 2016 Symposium session chair, Session title: "Stress and Behavior," Budapest, Hungry, June 7-9, International Society of Behavioral Neuroscience (IBNS). 2016 Council Member, ASIOA
  • 2015 Session chair, Association of Scientists of Indian Origin (ASIO) annual meeting, Orlando, Florida, January 19-20.
  • 2015 Excellence in Research Award, College of Pharmacy, 探花视频, TX

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Society For Neuroscience (SFN), 2007-present
  • Member, American Society For Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET), 2004-present
  • Member, Association of Scientists of Indian Origin (ASIOA), 2007-present
  • Member, International Society of Behavioral Neuroscience (IBNS), 2015-present
  • Member, Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society for International Scholars
  • Member, Mental Health research Consortium Steering Committee, Houston, Texas