UTMB - The University of Texas Medical Branch

Faculty & Research - Neuropharmacology

Neuropharmacology focuses on the study of drugs that modify the function of the nervous system. Affective (e.g. depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder) and psychotic disorders constitute an extremely important element of the disease burden in the U.S. and worldwide: major depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Therapeutic medications are an important component of effective psychiatric treatment. The goals of neuropharmacological investigations are to elucidate the basic mechanisms of action underlying these therapeutic effects, to probe the neural dysfunction that underlies disease states, and to find new ways to use drugs in the treatment of brain disorders such as anxiety, psychosis and drug addiction. The scientists in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology are engaged in integrated anatomical, electrophysiological, imaging, neurochemical and behavioral research aimed at characterizing the neural mechanisms by which drugs affect the brain, and at gaining new insights concerning drug mechanisms and treatment potential.

Drug addiction is a devastating disorder. Nationally, the estimated economic impact of alcoholism, drug abuse and cigarette smoking is more than twice that of cancer. The additional cost in human suffering cannot be measured. To combat this disease, departmental researchers are studying the neural basis for addiction and helping to develop new medications to treat drug dependence and to prevent relapse.

The research directions of the faculty extend over multiple neurotransmitters (e.g., excitatory/inhibitory amino acids, monoamines, acetylcholine) and neuromodulators (e.g., CRF, opioids, hormones) and a multitude of methods, including molecular biology, electrophysiology, neurochemistry, and behavior.

Scientific breakthroughs are achieved by inquisitiveness and intellectual ardor, coupled with a solid knowledge base in the field. This essential combination is evident in the training program for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the pharmacology of abused drugs. Supported by the first training grant in the state of Texas funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, predoctoral trainees gain a rigorous academic background and an introduction to research concepts and methodologies via laboratory rotations. Then, trainees engage in 2-3 years of original research on issues of primary importance to the elucidation of mechanisms by which drugs of abuse interact with neurotransmitters and influence neurotransmission. Postdoctoral trainees focus on research and develop their scientific and professional careers through close contact with program faculty.