Mohammed Almutairi, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology
College of Pharmacy, King Saud University
Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Office: 1B37 (Building 23)
Email: malmotyre@ksu.edu.sa

Professional summary

Dr. Almutairi is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the King Saud University, Pharmacy. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Kansas, USA. His research focuses on understanding and targeting the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, studying age-dependent abnormalities in mitochondria and developing efficient targeted strategies to improve mitochondrial quality and activity in aging models.

Dr. Almutairi’s research employs a variety of techniques, including cell culture, animal surgery, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function assays, western blotting, real time PCR, and flow cytometry.

His research goals are to identify and develop promising therapeutic approaches to rescue neuronal cells and the brain from cellular senescence and from different abnormal conditions (including, hyperglycemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, and trace metal toxicity).

Dr. Almutairi actively trains and supervises graduate and undergraduate students guiding them in developing their research projects and fostering a collaborative environment that encourages exploration and creativity in the molecular pharmacology and toxicology.

Research Interests:

  • Interactions between neuropharmacological agents and neurotoxic insults at the cellular and molecular levels.

  • Neurotoxic effects of emerging toxicants (e.g. nanoparticles and synthetic drugs).

  • Mitochondria-targeted neuroprotective agents and their pharmacological potential in age-associated CNS diseases.

Research goals :

  • Identifying and developing promising therapeutic approaches to rescue cells from different abnormal conditions (e.g. hyperglycemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, trace metal toxicity, ...etc.).

  • Screening for novel compounds to protect neurons from neurotoxic effects of hyperglycemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction.

  • Understanding mitochondrial theory of aging and implementing interventional approaches to delay mitochondrial aging and extend longevity.

Research goals:

  • Identifying and developing promising therapeutic approaches to rescue cells from different abnormal conditions (e.g. hyperglycemia, inflammation, oxidative stress, trace metal toxicity, ...etc.).

  • Understanding mitochondrial theory of aging and implementing interventional approaches to delay mitochondrial aging and extend longevity.

Current projects :

  • Investigating neuroprotective effects of novel compounds against aging-related cellular damage.

  • Assessing cytotoxicity of heavy metals (e.g. arsenic and iron) in its various states on in-vitro models.

Current and previous graduate and PharmD students

Current students:

1. Faisal Nasser (PharmD student)

2. Abdullah Alsheikh (PharmD student)

Graduated students

1. Fahad Almutairi, MSc.

2. Mohammed Alatabani, PharmD

3. Abdulaziz Alsaikhan, PharmD

Key publication / select publication

Please see for a complete list of publication at:

• Alanazi MM, Albaker AB, Alzaagi LA, Alsabhan JF, Alasmari F, Almutairi MM, Alharbi MS, Alasmari AF, Alqahtani F, Alsanea S. (2025). Oxytocin Protects PC12 Cells Against β-Amyloid-Induced Cell Injury. Pharmaceuticals J. DOI: 10.3390/ph18030390.

• Almutairi MM, Althekair A, Almutairi F, Alatabani M, Alsaikhan A (2024). Mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy in ADHD: Cellular and molecular mechanisms. Saudi Pharm J. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.1022212.

• Alanazi W, Alharbi T, Bin Anzan K, Alyahiya M, Elnagar D, Alanazi M, Almutairi MM, Alhamami H, Albogami A, Mohany M (2024). The Role of Dapagliflozin in the Modulation of Hypothermia and Renal Injury Caused by Septic Shock in Euglycemic and Hyperglycemic Rat Models. Current Pharmacology J. DOI: 10.2174/0118761429329635241016054513, 2024, 17, e18761429329635.

• Alhudaithi S, Kalam M, Binobaid L, Ali R, Almutairi MM, Qamar W, Hithlayn H, Almutairi A, Alshememry A (2024). Sorafenib and Piperine co-loaded PLGA nanoparticles: Development, characterization, and anti-cancer activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Saudi Pharm J. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.102064.

• Alsaleh N, Aljarbou A, Assal M, Assiri M, Almutairi MM, As Sobeai H, Alshamrani A, Almudimeegh S, Hatshan M, Adil S (2024). Synthesis, Characterization, and Toxicity Assessment of Zinc Oxide-Doped Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles in a Macrophage Model. Pharmaceuticals. DOI: 10.3390/ph17020168.

• Alqahtani F, Ali Y, Almutairi MM, Alotaibi A, Imran I, Alshammari M, Alshememry A, Alsharari S, Albekairr T (2024). Therapeutic benefits of quercetin in traumatic brain injury model exposed to cigarette smoke. Saudi Pharm J. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101895.

• Assiri M, Albekari T, Ansari M, Nadeem A, Attia S, Albakheet S, Shaid M, Aldossari A, Almutairi MM, Almanaa T, Alwetaid M, Ahmad S (2023). The Exposure to Lead (Pb) Exacerbates Immunological Abnormalities in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mice through the Regulation of Signaling Pathways Relevant to T Cells. Int J Mol Sci. DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216218.

• Alsaleh N, Assiri M, Aljarbou A, Almutairi MM, As Sobeai H, Alshamrani A, Almudimeegh S (2023). Adverse Responses following Exposure to Subtoxic Concentrations of Zinc Oxide and Nickle Oxide Nanoparticles in the Raw 264.7 Cells. Toxics. DOI: 10.3390/toxics11080674.

• Alanazi M, Ansari M, Nadeem A, Attia S, Bakheet S, Almazroua H, Aldossari A, Almutairi MM, Albekairi T, Hussein M, Alhamamah M, Ahmad S (2023). Cadmium Exposure Is Associated with Behavioral Deficits and Neuroimmune Dysfunction in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mice. Int. J. Mol. Sci. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076575.

• Alghaith A, Mahrous G, Shazly G, Zidan D, Alhamed A, Alginyah M, Almutairi MM, Syed S (2022). The Optimization and Evaluation of Flibanserin Fast-Dissolving Oral Films. Polymers. DOI: 10.3390/polym14204298.

• Alotaibi A, Alsaleh N, Aljasham A, Tawfik E, Almutairi MM, Assiri M, Alkholief M, Almutairi M (2022). Silver Nanoparticle-Based Combinations with Antimicrobial Agents against Antimicrobial-Resistant Clinical Isolates. Antibiotics. DOI: 10.3390/ antibiotics 11091219.

• Al-Harbi N, Sheikh A, Almutairi MM, Alanazi A, Ibrahim K, Alqarni S, Alqahtani F, Alhazzani K, Alharbi M, Alasmari F, Nadeem A (2022). Lck signaling inhibition causes improvement in clinical features of psoriatic inflammation through reduction in inflammatory cytokines in CD4+ T cells in imiquimod mouse model. Cell Immunol. DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2022.104531.

• Almutairi MM, Sivandzade F, Albekairi T, Alqahtani F, Cucullo L (2021). Neuro-inflammation and its impact on the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Front Med. DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.745789.