NIH Director’s Award: Yavin Shaham, NIDA For the development of novel animal models that have led to a paradigm shift in research on behavior and brain mechanisms of drug addiction. Ruth Kirchstein Mentoring Award: Marisela Morales, NIDA For exemplary performance while demonstrating significant leadership, skill, and ability in serving as a mentor. NIDA Staff members… [Read More]
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Ayesha Sengupta awarded Women in Learning Research Grant
The Women in Learning Awards Committee has selected Ayesha Sengupta as the recipient of the 2020 “Where there’s a WIL there’s a way” Research Grant. This is the first award of its kind from WIL. It was designed to honor one outstanding yet underrepresented graduate student or post-doctoral fellow in the field of Learning &… [Read More]
The mechanism of a high-affinity allosteric inhibitor of the serotonin transporter
Featured Paper of the Month – September 2020
Published in Nature Communications by Plenge, Per; Abramyan, Ara M; Sørensen, Gunnar; Mørk, Arne; Weikop, Pia; Gether, Ulrik; Bang-Andersen, Benny; Shi, Lei; Loland, Claus J
The serotonin transporter (SERT) terminates serotonin signaling by rapid presynaptic reuptake. SERT activity is modulated by antidepressants, e.g., S-citalopram and imipramine, to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. SERT crystal structures reveal two S-citalopram binding pockets in the central binding (S1) site and the extracellular vestibule (S2 site). In this study, our combined in vitro and in silico analysis indicates that the bound S-citalopram or imipramine in S1 is allosterically coupled to the ligand binding to S2 through altering protein conformations…
Fentanyl vapor self-administration model in mice to study opioid addiction
Hot Off the Press – August 27 , 2020. This paper describes a new non-invasive model of opioid addiction in mice that is based on fentanyl vapor self-administration. This model allows the study of limited and prolonged drug intake, abstinence, and relapse to drug seeking. Compared to current intravenous models, the new model is more… [Read More]
Role of Projections between Piriform Cortex and Orbitofrontal Cortex in Relapse to Fentanyl Seeking after Palatable Food Choice-Induced Voluntary Abstinence
Featured Paper of the Month – August 2020
Published in Journal of Neuroscience by Reiner, David J; Lofaro, Olivia M; Applebey, Sarah V; Korah, Hannah; Venniro, Marco; Cifani, Carlo; Bossert, Jennifer M; Shaham, Yavin
Fentanyl is a major contributor to the opioid overdose crisis, but there are few preclinical studies of fentanyl relapse. These studies have used experimenter-imposed extinction or forced abstinence procedures. In humans, however, abstinence is often voluntary, with drug available in the drug environment but forgone in favor of nondrug alternative reinforcers. We recently developed a rat model of drug relapse after palatable food choice-induced voluntary abstinence. Here, we used classical pharmacology, immunohistochemistry, and retrograde tracing to demonstrate a critical role of the piriform and orbitofrontal cortices in relapse to fentanyl seeking after voluntary abstinence…
Dr. Eliot Gardner receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society.
NIDA Investigator Dr. Eliot Gardner has been awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS). The ICRS is a non-political, non-religious organization dedicated to scientific research in all fields of the cannabinoids, ranging from biochemical, chemical and physiological studies of the endogenous cannabinoid system to studies of the abuse potential… [Read More]
Converging structural and functional evidence for a rat salience network
Hot Off the Press – July 17 , 2020. The human salience network (SN) detects relevant stimuli to guide behavior and is implicated in neuropsychiatric diseases. In this study, we identified a functionally and structurally connected rat SN sharing spatial similarity with humans. We further demonstrated the functional implications of this network with conditioned heroin… [Read More]
New Challenges in Addiction Medicine: COVID-19 Infection in Patients With Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders-The Perfect Storm
Hot Off the Press – July 14 , 2020. In this article the authors discuss the heightened risks for individuals living with alcohol and substance use disorders during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Physiological, psychological, medical and economic consequences are described in relation to inaction including the far-reaching implications on the individual, society and global sphere…. [Read More]
Intrinsic differences in insular circuits moderate the negative association between nicotine dependence and cingulate-striatal connectivity strength
Featured Paper of the Month – July 2020
Published in Neuropsychopharmacology by Keeley, Robin J; Hsu, Li-Ming; Brynildsen, Julia K; Lu, Hanbing; Yang, Yihong; Stein, Elliot A
Developing brain-based biomarkers to assess drug dependence, including nicotine dependence, are essential to assess and improve the current, marginally effective, treatments. In humans, using brain-based resting state functional connectivity, we have previously identified a circuit between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex(ACC) and the striatum whose connectivity decreased with increasing nicotine dependence severity. This circuit was unaffected by acute nicotine administration, suggesting a trait marker of nicotine addiction. However, whether this trait circuit dysregulation is predispositional or resultant from nicotine dependence remained unclear…
NIDA IRP Scientist Michael Baumann, Ph.D. Edits a Special Journal Issue on Opioid Pharmacology
The origins of the current opioid crisis are complex, and effective solutions will require multidisciplinary cooperation among many stakeholders, including policymakers, clinicians, and scientists. To this end, basic research in pharmacology can provide critical information for addressing the crisis. In a Special Issue of Neuropharmacology, entitled “New Vistas in Opioid Pharmacology”, Dr Michael Baumann from the… [Read More]
