Dr. Nyzil Massey

Assistant Professor of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology
Dr. Nyzil Massey
nmassey@AState.edu
(870) 680-4364
ABI (Arkansas Biosciences Institute), 304
College of Veterinary Medicine

About Dr. Nyzil Massey

Dr. Nyzil Massey, BVSc & AH, Ph.D., DABT, is an Assistant Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Arkansas State University. He earned his veterinary degree (DVM equivalent) in India and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Iowa State University. He is a board-certified toxicologist with expertise in neuroscience, environmental toxicology, and neuropharmacology. At Arkansas State University, he teaches veterinary physiology and histology and contributes to the education and research training of veterinary students and graduates.

Dr. Massey completed his doctoral and postdoctoral training at Iowa State University. His research investigates how environmental exposures across the lifespan affect brain function. His work focuses on neuroinflammation, seizures, and cognitive and behavioral impairment. He integrates behavioral testing, continuous EEG, neuroimaging, and transcriptomic approaches to identify mechanisms and therapeutic targets for persistent neurotoxicity.

He also serves as an editor for a scientific journal focused on translational neurotoxicology. Dr. Massey is strongly committed to mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary students and preparing them for careers in biomedical and translational research.

Education

  • DVM, India
  • Ph.D., Iowa State University

Credentials

  • Diplomate of American Board of Toxicology (DABT)
     

Research at a Glance

Summary

My research examines how environmental and chemical exposures across the life course alter brain function and susceptibility to neurological injury. A major focus is the acute and long-term neurotoxicity of organophosphates, including soman, VX, and DFP, and how a single exposure can progress from seizures and acute injury to persistent network dysfunction, epilepsy, and cognitive and behavioral impairment. Using developmental, pediatric, adult, and aging models, I investigate how life stage and prior environmental exposures, including PFAS, influence vulnerability, recovery, and long-term neurological outcomes. Mechanistically, my work examines neuroinflammation, oxidative and mitochondrial stress, altered cellular signaling, excitatory–inhibitory imbalance, and molecular reprogramming in relation to sleep and EEG abnormalities, behavioral outcomes, and brain-network dysfunction. Ultimately, my research seeks to identify exposure-dependent mechanisms, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets that can prevent persistent neurological dysfunction and improve brain health across the lifespan.

Areas of Expertise

  • Neurotoxicology
  • Translational Research
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Environmental Toxicology
  • Epileptogenesis

Selected Publications

  • Massey, N., Vasanthi, S.S., Holtkamp, C. et al. Mitigating organophosphate nerve agent, soman (GD), induced long-term neurotoxicity: Saracatinib, a Src Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor, as a potential countermeasure. J Neuroinflammation 22, 199 (2025). doi:10.1186/s12974-025-03520-5
     
    Massey N, Vasanthi SS, Meyer C, et al. Dual targeting of iNOS and Src tyrosine kinase as a superior therapeutic strategy against soman-induced long-term neurotoxicity: multimodal biomarker, imaging, and neurobehavioral outcome analyses. Acta Neuropathol Commun. Published online January 9, 2026. doi:10.1186/s40478-025-02220-8
     
    Massey N, Vasanthi SS, Samidurai M, Gage M, Rao N, Meyer C, Thippeswamy T. 1400 W, a selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, mitigates early neuroinflammation and nitrooxidative stress in a diisopropylfluorophosphate-induced short-term neurotoxicity rat model. Front Mol Neurosci. 2023 Mar 17;16:1125934. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1125934. PMID: 37008784; PMCID: PMC10064070.