Elucidation of the mechanisms of action by which drugs of abuse modify brain function requires knowledge of fundamental neuroscience with respect to how individual molecular components control neurotransmission and behavior. This program for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows will provide research training in relevant neuroscience for understanding how drugs of abuse modify brain function. This interdisciplinary training program by the excellent faculty of the Graduate Program in Neurosciences at the Univ. of Calif., San Diego (UCSD) will span protein chemistry for synthesis of opioid receptor ligands, biochemistry and macromolecular structure of protein components involved in neurotransmission, and pharmacology of receptor-mediated signal neuronal systems in pain and behavior that are related to the actions of drugs of abuse. The integration of analyzing brain function at several levels-protein biochemistry as sites of drug interactions, molecular biology, neurobiology, physiology, and neuronal circuits in pain and behavior- is required for drug abuse research to elucidate how these chemical drugs modify regulatory receptors, enzymes, and other components that regulate neurotransmission and behavior. This training program will instruct six predoctoral students and two postdoctoral trainees in multidisciplinary and integrated research areas in neuroscience for the goal of enhancing our knowledge of how drugs of abuse modify brain function. Each trainee will be mentored by a primary NIDA-funded faculty advisor of this training program. Incorporation of modern and interdisciplinary approaches will be achieved with a secondary faculty mentor with expertise in current neuroscience disciplines that will enhance drug abuse research. Multidisciplinary research projects involving the training faculty will be developed. Exchange of scientific knowledge among trainees and faculty will be achieved through coursework, seminars, formal scientific presentations and scientific discussions. The high quality faculty, and their commitment to research training, will allow this program to train young scientists who will possess the appropriate expertise and scientific knowledge for elucidation of drug actions. Furthermore, modern up-to date facilities at UCSD will be accessible to trainees, including newly established Proteomic Laboratory, bioinformatic analyses of the Protein Data Bank and protein structure at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) that includes drug informatics, the core transgenic mouse facility, peptide synthesis and sequencing core, and molecular and cell biology facilities. Trainees of this program will acquire the knowledge required for their continued investigations on the principles of drug action to investigate mechanisms of drugs of abuse.

Public Health Relevance

This research training is relevant for developing scientists to elucidate mechanisms of drug abuse action to maintain human health and to improve health in disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Institutional National Research Service Award (T32)
Project #
5T32DA007315-08
Application #
7821330
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDA1-EXL-T (04))
Program Officer
Avila, Albert
Project Start
2000-07-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2010-07-01
Budget End
2011-06-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$409,035
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Lacin, Emre; Muller, Arnaud; Fernando, Marian et al. (2016) Construction of Cell-based Neurotransmitter Fluorescent Engineered Reporters (CNiFERs) for Optical Detection of Neurotransmitters In Vivo. J Vis Exp :
Podvin, Sonia; Yaksh, Tony; Hook, Vivian (2016) The Emerging Role of Spinal Dynorphin in Chronic Pain: A Therapeutic Perspective. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 56:511-33
Podvin, Sonia; Miller, Miles C; Rossi, Ryan et al. (2016) The Orphan C2orf40 Gene is a Neuroimmune Factor in Alzheimer's Disease. JSM Alzheimers Dis Relat Dement 3:
Bertin, Matthew J; Vulpanovici, Alexandra; Monroe, Emily A et al. (2016) The Phormidolide Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A trans-AT PKS Pathway Encoding a Toxic Macrocyclic Polyketide. Chembiochem 17:164-73
Park, Paula E; Schlosburg, Joel E; Vendruscolo, Leandro F et al. (2015) Chronic CRF1 receptor blockade reduces heroin intake escalation and dependence-induced hyperalgesia. Addict Biol 20:275-84
Almatroudi, Abdulrahman; Husbands, Stephen M; Bailey, Christopher P et al. (2015) Combined administration of buprenorphine and naltrexone produces antidepressant-like effects in mice. J Psychopharmacol 29:812-21
Bushman, Diane M; Kaeser, Gwendolyn E; Siddoway, Benjamin et al. (2015) Genomic mosaicism with increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene copy number in single neurons from sporadic Alzheimer's disease brains. Elife 4:
Zieli?ska, Marta; Ben Haddou, Tanila; Cami-Kobeci, Gerta et al. (2015) Anti-inflammatory effect of dual nociceptin and opioid receptor agonist, BU08070, in experimental colitis in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 765:582-90
Podvin, Sonia; Bundey, Richard; Toneff, Thomas et al. (2015) Profiles of secreted neuropeptides and catecholamines illustrate similarities and differences in response to stimulation by distinct secretagogues. Mol Cell Neurosci 68:177-85
Miller, Bailey; Friedman, Aaron J; Choi, Hyukjae et al. (2014) The marine cyanobacterial metabolite gallinamide A is a potent and selective inhibitor of human cathepsin L. J Nat Prod 77:92-9

Showing the most recent 10 out of 40 publications