Featured Paper of the Month – July 2022 Published in The Journal of Neuroscience by Hong-Ju Yang, Briana J Hempel and Zheng-Xiong Xi, et al. of the NIDA IRP Addiction Biology Unit. Summary It is well known that glutamate plays an important role in relapse to drug seeking. However, the role of glutamate in drug… [Read More]
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Preferential Gs protein coupling of the galanin Gal1 receptor in the µ-opioid-Gal1 receptor heterotetramer
Hot Off the Press – July 8, 2022 Published in Pharmacological Research by Paulo De Oliveira, Ph.D. and Sergi Ferré, M.D., Ph.D. of the NIDA-IRP Integrative Neurobiology Section. Summary We recently demonstrated that complexes (heteromers) of μ-opioid receptors (MORs) and receptors for the neuropeptide galanin of the Gal1subtype (Gal1Rs) localized in the brainstem (in the… [Read More]
Searching for a Signal: Self-Reported Kratom Dose-Effect Relationships Among a Sample of US Adults With Regular Kratom Use Histories
Featured Paper of the Month – July 2022 Published in Frontiers in Pharmacology by Kirsten Smith, Ph.D.; Jeffrey Rogers, BS., B.A.; and David Epstein, Ph.D.; et al. of the NIDA IRP Real-world Assessment, Prediction, and Treatment Unit. Summary Kratom is a plant increasingly used in the US for the psychoactive properties of the more than four dozen alkaloids… [Read More]
Brain lesions disrupting addiction map to a common human brain circuit.
Hot Off the Press – June 15, 2022 Published in Nature Medicine, with contributions by Khaled Moussawi, M.D., Ph.D., Harshwardhan Deshpande, Ph.D., Thomas Ross, Ph.D. and Elliot Stein, Ph.D. of NIDA-IRP. Summary Sometimes regional brain damage (also called a lesion – for example from a stroke) leads to spontaneous remission of addiction – in the… [Read More]
Involvement of the ghrelin system in the maintenance and reinstatement of cocaine-motivated behaviors: a role of adrenergic action at peripheral β1 receptors
Featured Paper of the Month – June 2022 Published in Neuropsychopharmacology by Zhi-Bing You, Ph.D. and Eliot Gardner, Ph.D., et al. of the NIDA IRP Neuropsychopharmacology Section. Summary Cocaine addiction is a significant medical and public concern. Despite decades of research effort, development of anti-addiction, anti-craving, and anti-relapse medications for cocaine addiction remains largely unsuccessful. … [Read More]
Reversing anterior insular cortex neuronal hypoexcitability attenuates compulsive behavior in adolescent rats
Hot Off the Press – May 27, 2022 Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by Dr. Kshitij Jadhav (2019 Predoctoral trainee at NIDA-IRP), Dr. Benjamin Boutrel (Ph.D. supervisor, University of Lausanne, Switzerland) and Dr. Carl Lupica (Project Supervisor, Electrophysiology Research Section, NIDA-IRP). Summary Adolescents are labelled as high risk-taking impulsive individuals… [Read More]
2022 NIDA IRP Mentoring Awards
Congratulations to our 2022 Mentoring Award winners! They were honored at the 10th NIDA Research Day and Mentoring Awards ceremony on May 18, 2022. From left to right: Brenda Curtis, Ph.D. – Diversity Mentoring Award and Investigator Mentoring Award; Steven Zhang, Ph.D. – Staff Scientist Mentoring Award; and Katherine Savell, Ph.D. – Postdoctoral Fellow Mentoring… [Read More]
Structure-activity relationships for 5F-MDMB-PICA and its 5F-pentylindole analogs to induce cannabinoid-like effects in mice
Featured Paper of the Month – May 2022 Published in Neuropsychopharmacology by Grant Glatfelter, John Partilla and Michael Baumann of the NIDA IRP Designer Drug Research Unit. Summary 5F-MDMB-PICA is a potent synthetic cannabinoid associated with public harm from recreational use. Little is known about the pharmacology of 5F-MDMB-PICA underlying it’s potent effects. This study… [Read More]
2022 NIDA IRP Women Scientist Advisors Awards
The NIDA IRP Women Scientist Advisors awards ceremony is held annually to recognize the accomplishments of outstanding women scientists. The 2022 awardees are: Daria Piacentino, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc. – Excellence in Research Award Renata C. N. Marchette, Pharm.D., Ph.D. – Research Recognition Award Gisela Andrea Camacho Hernandez, Ph.D. – Promising Postdoctoral Fellow Award Katherine Savell,… [Read More]
Dr. Thorsten Kahnt Wins 2022 AChemS Young Investigator Award for Research in Olfaction or Nasal Chemosensation
The Association for Chemoreception Sciences has awarded Dr. Thorsten Kahnt with it’s Young Investigator Award for Research in Olfaction or Nasal Chemosensation. Dr. Kahnt is the newest Principal Investigator at the NIDA IRP and he will be leading the Learning and Decision-Making Unit. Congratulations, Dr. Kahnt! Acknowledgements from Dr. Kahnt I am very grateful to the… [Read More]
