The goals of the proposed continuing Minority Institutions' Drug Abuse Research Development Program (MIDARP) at Old Westbury Neuroscience Research Institute (OWNRI) are (1) to conduct studies in the areas of substance abuse, (2) to increase minority representation and faculty development in the fields of neuroscience neuroimmunology and drug abuse by providing a state-of-the-art research experience and associated activities, e.g., seminars, lectures, etc., to new faculty and students, and (3) to disseminate findings through scholarly publications, presentations and workshops. The College at Old Westbury is ideally suited to carry out this mission since its faculty are developing expertise in substance abuse as demonstrated by their peer-reviewed publications. Furthermore, in its previous period of funding, the Old Westbury MIDARP discovered a novel opiate receptor subtype, designated mu3, that is opiate alkaloid selective and opioid peptide insensitive. The program has a multi-ethnic faculty and a high percentage of minority students that choose science as a major with drug abuse interests. The faculty have special interests in molecular and cellular neuroimmunology related to the National Institute on Drug Abuse priorities, e.g., endogenous morphine and opiate induced immune downregulation. The proposed research program plans to develop greater program expertise in molecular biology. Additionally, it proposes to add a new faculty with NIDA interests. As part of its infrastructure-building activities, scientists from major research organizations will be invited to give lectures on relevant topics. Undergraduate and graduate students will be employed as research assistants. The major research projects incorporated into this proposal are designed to address two of NIDA's priorities: 1) Determining the process of morphine biosynthesis, including the identification of morphine precursors and enzymes; and 2) Determining the signal transduction pathway, gene and protein expression of the mu3 opiate receptor in various conditions and how it is related to drug addiction, and to clone, sequence, and study the function of the new mu4 gene.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Resource-Related Research Projects (R24)
Project #
5R24DA009010-18
Application #
7430276
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1-EXL-T (23))
Program Officer
Purohit, Vishnudutt
Project Start
1996-12-01
Project End
2010-05-31
Budget Start
2008-06-01
Budget End
2010-05-31
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$364,935
Indirect Cost
Name
College at Old Westbury
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
152606729
City
Old Westbury
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11568
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Stefano, George B; Kream, Richard M (2007) Endogenous morphine synthetic pathway preceded and gave rise to catecholamine synthesis in evolution (Review). Int J Mol Med 20:837-41
Cadet, Patrick; Mantione, Kirk J; Zhu, Wei et al. (2007) A functionally coupled mu3-like opiate receptor/nitric oxide regulatory pathway in human multi-lineage progenitor cells. J Immunol 179:5839-44
Cheng, Jeanette; Zhang, Chen; Han, Ji-Sheng et al. (2007) TENS stimulates constitutive nitric oxide release via opiate signaling in invertebrate neural tissues. Med Sci Monit 13:BR163-7
Stefano, George B; Bianchi, Enrica; Guarna, Massimo et al. (2007) Nicotine, alcohol and cocaine coupling to reward processes via endogenous morphine signaling: the dopamine-morphine hypothesis. Med Sci Monit 13:RA91-102
Esch, Tobias; Kim, Jae Won; Stefano, George B (2006) Neurobiological implications of eating healthy. Neuro Endocrinol Lett 27:21-33
Kream, Richard M; Stefano, George B (2006) De novo biosynthesis of morphine in animal cells: an evidence-based model. Med Sci Monit 12:RA207-19
Stefano, George B; Fricchione, Gregory L; Esch, Tobias (2006) Relaxation: molecular and physiological significance. Med Sci Monit 12:HY21-31
Zhu, Wei; Mantione, Kirk J; Casares, Federico M et al. (2006) Cholinergic regulation of endogenous morphine release from lobster nerve cord. Med Sci Monit 12:BR295-301

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