Our work involves the study of molecular, cellular and systems level analyses of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system and how these different levels of study work together to contribute to drug relapse. As a corollary to this work, we are also interested in how other brain systems influence the mesocorticolimbic system to regulate relapse behavior. This work involves the study of body’s stress systems, memory and learning systems and information processing systems. Dysregulation of these systems by drugs of abuse leads to a compulsive drive to take and seek drugs of abuse. The goal of our research is to better understand the biological basis of the disease and to identify major biological targets for potential therapeutic intervention to promote abstinence.
