Contact
Triad Technology Center333 Cassell Drive
Room 3301
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 667-312-5409
Email: Gianluigi.Tanda@nih.gov
Education
University Diploma as Doctor in Pharmacy, and National Board Certification as Professional Pharmacist, University of Cagliari, Italy. (Advisor: Prof. G. DiChiara)
Diploma of Doctoral Specialization in Toxicology, School of Toxicology, University of Cagliari, Italy; Summa cum Laude. (Advisor: Prof. G. DiChiara)
Research Interests
Past research at the University of Cagliari, Italy, has been focusing on interactions among brain amine systems in psychiatric diseases, depression, schizophrenia, and addictions. In collaboration with Prof. DiChiara and Prof. Pontieri, we have been the first to characterize the pharmacological effects of addictive substances in the shell and core of the Nucleus Accumbens in rodents.
After moving to NIDA/IRP, NIH, in collaboration with Dr. Steven Goldberg we have also been the first to provide clear preclinical demonstration that THC maintains drug-taking behavior in squirrel monkeys at doses comparable to those smoked by humans. This finding demonstrated that THC is a reinforcer, and it has potential for misuse comparable to that of nicotine, cocaine and heroin. This discovery facilitated studies of the neurobiology underlying marijuana and cannabinoid misuse, including the complex pharmacology of the endogenous cannabinoid system and its relationship with systems underlying nicotine dependence.
Our current research is focused on understanding neurochemical, behavioral and molecular differences among typical and atypical blockers of the membrane dopamine transporter that can lead to pharmacotherapeutics for the treatment of cocaine and other psychostimulant use disorders.
We are currently characterizing the effects of modafinil, its enantiomers and several newly synthetized structural analogs of modafinil, alone and in combination with addictive psychostimulants on dopamine dynamics, via neuro-electrochemistry procedures, and on reward-related behavior in rodents. Our goal is to find potential medications for treatment of psychostimulant use disorder.
Publications
Selected Publications
Effect of systemically administered oxytocin on dose response for methylphenidate self-administration and mesolimbic dopamine levels Journal Article In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, vol. 1455, no. 1, pp. 173-184, 2019. New Perspectives on the Use of Cannabis in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders Journal Article In: Medicines, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 107, 2018. Atypical dopamine transporter inhibitors attenuate compulsive-like methamphetamine self-administration in rats Journal Article In: Neuropharmacology, vol. 131, pp. 96 - 103, 2018, ISSN: 0028-3908. Atypical dopamine transporter inhibitors attenuate compulsive-like methamphetamine self-administration in rats Journal Article In: Neuropharmacology, vol. 131, pp. 96 - 103, 2018, ISSN: 0028-3908. Oxytocin’s effects in cocaine addiction. Book Chapter In: Preedy, Victor (Ed.): In: The Neuroscience of Cocaine: Mechanisms and Treatment , Academic Press, 1, 2017. The Novel Modafinil Analog, JJC8-016, as a Potential Cocaine Abuse Pharmacotherapeutic. Journal Article In: Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 42, no. 9, pp. 1871–1883, 2017, ISSN: 1740-634X (Electronic); 0893-133X (Linking). Key role of the dopamine D4 receptor in the modulation of corticostriatal glutamatergic neurotransmission. Journal Article In: Sci Adv, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. e1601631, 2017, ISSN: 2375-2548 (Electronic); 2375-2548 (Linking). The unique psychostimulant profile of (+/-)-modafinil: investigation of behavioral and neurochemical effects in mice. Journal Article In: Eur J Neurosci, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 167–174, 2017, ISSN: 1460-9568 (Electronic); 0953-816X (Linking). In: Pharmacol Biochem Behav, vol. 150-151, pp. 22–30, 2016, ISSN: 1873-5177 (Electronic); 0091-3057 (Linking).
2019
2018
2017
2016