His lab, which he started setting up even before he arrived, studies the molecular determinants of morphine addiction using a combination of biochemical techniques and modern proteomics approaches. Earlier this year, he wrote an article in a high impact journal that shows how morphine treatment alters proteins involved in communication between cells in brain regions associated with learning and memory. This paper, “Morphine administration alters the profile of hippocampal postsynaptic density-associated proteins: a proteomics study focusing on endocytic proteins,” published in Molecular & Cellular Proteomics in January 2007, was also highlighted by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in its March 2007 newsletter.

Would you please explain briefly what this research is about?
Dr. Moron: The goal of my research is to seek answers to important questions about addictive processes, to develop new approaches to treatment. In particular, the research in my lab is focused on understanding the basic molecular actions that underlie the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse, and ultimately to identify new targets for future investigations.

 What led you to pursue this research?
Dr. Moron: I have always been interested in studying brain function. During my postdoctoral training at NIDA, I had the opportunity to acquire a profound knowledge about neurobiology of drugs of abuse. I found this field totally fascinating, so I decided to take my research further and study the complex mechanisms that underlie addictive behaviors.

How is this research unique?
Dr. Moron: It is unique because it involves the interaction of cutting-edge proteomics tools with animal models. Proteomics is the large-scale study of how many different proteins are regulated individually and as groups. It is a starting point to give an overall picture of how whole sets of proteins are regulated by drugs of abuse. Therefore, it provides a much larger and unique perspective that is not attainable with other methods.

What are the scientific and medical implications of your findings?
Dr. Moron: The combination of proteomics techniques with behavioral models of addiction will have an unusually high impact in the addiction field as we pursue answers to many fundamental questions about brain function. Simultaneously, we will increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of drug action. These studies will also help identify molecular markers of drug addiction and potential drug targets for the treatment of addiction.

This research is funded by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse/National Institutes of Health.