Research
Current Research Projects
Genetics of Opioid Use Disorder
Investigating how background genetics and sex determine opioid analgesic responses, consumption trajectories, and withdrawal phenotypes. Using the Hybrid Rat Diversity Panel, our systems genetics approach maps the distinct biological signatures that separate addiction vulnerability from resilience.
Impact of Developmental Drug Exposures
Examining how caffeine intake during the critical neurodevelopmental window of adolescence alters long-term brain health. This line of research models early-life exposure to uncover permanent recalibrations in reward circuits, emotional regulation, and sensitivity to drugs of abuse.
Neuropharmacology of Craving & Relapse
Uncovering the foundational neuropharmacological mechanisms of psychostimulant craving and relapse. Our work evaluates how the neuromodulator adenosine acts as a critical biological brake on dopamine- and glutamate-driven craving, identifying novel therapeutic pathways to suppress relapse.