Michael Baumann, Ph.D.
Unit Director
Contact
Location:
Triad Technology Center
333 Cassell Drive
Suite 4400
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 443-740-2660
Email: mbaumann@mail.nih.gov
About the Lab
The main goal of the DDRU is to collect, analyze and disseminate the most up-to-date information about the pharmacology and toxicology of newly-emerging designer drugs of abuse, more formally known as new psychoactive substances (NPS). NPS include synthetic drugs which mimic the effects of stimulants (e.g., “bath salts”), cannabinoids (e.g., “spice”), hallucinogens (e.g., “NBOMes”) and opioids (e.g., fentanyl analogs). These substances are specifically engineered to circumvent drug control laws and are often misused as a means to avoid detection of drug use.
Topics of investigation include:
- Pharmacology of newly-emerging designer drugs of abuse, such as “bath salts” stimulants and “K2/Spice” cannabinoids
- Structure-activity relationships for ligands interacting at monoamine transporter proteins
- Mechanisms underlying neurotoxic effects of stimulant drugs of abuse
NIDA IRP Designer Drug Research Unit Staff
