Branch Chief
Contact
Location:
Biomedical Research Center
251 Bayview Blvd
Suite 200, Room 07A711A
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 443-740-2650
Fax: 443-740-2753
Email: estein@mail.nih.gov
Branch Overview
The goal of the Neuroimaging Research Branch (NRB) is to better understand the neurobiological antecedents of illicit drug use and abuse, the neuronal consequences of short and long-term drug use and the potential reversibility of these neuroadaptations. The major paradigm employed towards this goal is the development and application of novel neuroimaging tools, predominantly MRI based but also employing PET and EEG, applied together with behavioral, cognitive and pharmacological manipulations and genetic investigations in both preclinical and human based protocols. Advanced MRI acquisition pulse sequences and novel analysis strategies are developed and applied in both human and preclinical models in an integrated translational approach to understand the causations of drug taking along with the acute and long term consequences of such use. Healthy, disease free individuals and those with various drug dependence disorders are studied. The long-term objective of this research is to inform the development of better behavioral and pharmacological interventions to treat substance abuse and help prevent vulnerable individuals from initiating drug use.
