Integrative Neuroscience Research Branch - The Intramural Research Program of the National Institute on Drug Abuse

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Integrative Neuroscience RESEARCH BRANCH

Branch Overview

Branch Chief: on-site page link

The Integrative Neuroscience Branch conducts research at the cellular, molecular, and systems levels to identify the neural substrates upon which drugs of abuse act to produce long-term alterations in behavior and brain function. The aims of our research are to:

  • delineate the role of opioid and other G-protein-coupled receptor systems in modulating behavioral and neurochemical adaptations that occur during chronic drug use and in response to persistent pain (Integrative Neuroscience Section)
  • identify drug-evoked alterations in sigma receptor function and interorganellar signaling between the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrion, and nucleus that lead to abnormalities in neuronal function and structure associated with the chronic use of abused drugs (Cellular Pathobiology Section);
  • attain a comprehensive understanding of receptor heteromerization using proteomic approaches and map the liposome and proteome of the brain in health and in pathological conditions (Structural Biology Unit).

The Multiphoton Microscopy and Stereology core provides a cellular imaging resource for all IRP investigators.

Integrative Neuroscience Section - Click for larger versionIntegrative Neuroscience Section - Click for larger version

Integrative Neuroscience Section

Section Chief: on-site page link

Projects include:

  • Identification of the neurochemical mechanisms by which endogenous opioid peptide systems regulate neurotransmission in the limbic cortical striatopallidal loop, a brain circuit critical for goal-oriented and stimulus-response learning.
  • The role of opioid peptide systems in modulating vulnerability of an individual to cocaine and other drugs of abuse.
  • The cellular mechanisms by which G-protein coupled receptors regulate the activity and trafficking of monoamine transporters.
  • Novel, non-opioid targets for the treatment of persistent pain and nerve injury.

Cellular Pathobiology Section - click for larger version

Cellular Pathobiology Section - click for larger version

Cellular Pathobiology Section

Section Chief: Tsung-Ping Su, Ph.D. on-site page link
  • Studies of cellular biological processes underlying addiction and related pathobiological disorders
  • Examination of signaling processes through which drugs of abuse alter neuronal structure and function
  • Biological and biochemical characterization of sigma receptors

Structural Biology Unit - click for larger version

Structural Biology Unit - click for larger version

Structural Biology Unit

Unit Chief: Amina S. Woods, Ph.D. on-site page link
  • The study of the mechanisms of molecular interactions, mainly between neuroreceptors proteins using bioinformatics, protein modeling, pull down techniques and mass spectrometry
  • The study of mild traumatic brain injury and apoptosis biomarkers in an animal model
  • Studying protein, lipids and DNA conformations using ion-mobility mass spectrometry
  • The study of protein and lipid biomarkers in drug addiction using an animal model
  • The imaging and mapping of Lipids and protein in brain tissue using MALDI MS
  • Imaging of cocaine and other drugs of abuse and their localization and distribution in brain tissue

Multiphoton Core Facility

The Multiphoton Microscopy and Stereology core provides a cellular imaging resource for all IRP investigators.

More information coming soon.

Related Information...

IRP Training Opportunities...

2009 Postbacs
Postdoc, Predoc, Postbac and Summer Student training opportunities available!


2009 Summer Students
Research & Training Program for Under-represented Populations
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the principal biomedical and behavioral research agency of the United States Government. NIH is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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