Ph.D. student
Morfeas is a neuroscientist and biologist who holds a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Cyprus and an MSc in Neuroscience for Drug Discovery from Aston University. He has recently joined our research team as a Ph.D. student to investigate the neurobiological underpinnings associated with opioid addiction and withdrawal.
His research focuses on exploring the potential efficacy of ketamine and its metabolites in reversing protracted opioid abstinence-induced maladaptive behavioral responses, employing rodent models. His research holds promise in identifying potential targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of opioid addiction.
During his Master’s training and undergraduate studies, Morfeas was involved in studies investigating the effects of catecholamines in the lateral entorhinal cortex using ex vivo electrophysiology, and the effects of ketamine’s metabolites on hippocampal synaptic plasticity during opioid withdrawal in mice.
Publications:
- Onisiforou, A., Koumas, M., Michael, A., Zanos, P. Selective transcriptomic recovery by (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine in opioid-abstinent mice: Machine learning identifies predictive biomarkers. bioRxiv. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.04.657935.
- Michael, A.*, Onisiforou, A.*, Georgiou, P., Koumas, M., Powels, C., Mammadov, E., Georgiou A.N., Zanos, P. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine prevents opioid abstinence-related negative affect and stress-induced reinstatement in mice. British Journal of Pharmacology, 2025, In Press. * Equal contribution. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.70018.
- Onisiforou, A., Michael, A., Apostolakis, M., Mammadov, E., Mitka, A., Kalatta, M.A., Koumas, M., Georgiou A., Chatzittofis, A., Panayiotou, G., Gergiou, P., Zarate, C.A., Zanos P. Ketamine and hydroxynorketamine as novel pharmacotherapies for the treatment of Opioid-Use Disorders. Biological Psychiatry. In Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.09.008
- Michael, A.*, Onisiforou, A.*, Georgiou, P., Koumas, M., Mammadov, E., Zanos, P. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine facilitates extinction and prevents emotional impairment and stress-induced reinstatement in morphine abstinent mice. bioRxiv (2023), 12.07.570550. * Equal Contribution. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.07.570550.
Contact Info:
Email: koumas.morfeas@ucy.ac.cy