Valentina Sabino, PhD

Professor, Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics

Valentina Sabino
617.638.4327
72 E. Concord St Housman (R)

Biography

Dr. Sabino is co-director of the Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, and Professor in the Pharmacology and in the Psychiatry Departmanets.
Her lab investigates the neurobiology of addiction and stress-related disorders. Studies aim to understand the neurobiological substrates of alcohol addiction by exploring the role of neuropeptide systems in excessive alcohol drinking.

Dr. Sabino is working toward the development of new therapeutic agents to alleviate alcohol addiction. Animal models for excessive drinking are studied in order to identify compounds for potential clinical development. Research is also conducted on the neurobiology of stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.

The approach of the laboratory is interdisciplinary, involving behavioral neuroscience, neuropharmacology, neuroanatomy, biochemistry and molecular biology.

Dr. Sabino is highly involved in teaching, as she directs and lectures in several graduate level courses (PhD students, MD students, Dental students, Master’s students).

Other Positions

  • Professor, General Psychiatry, Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Co-Director of Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Dean’s Office, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Education

  • University of Rome, PhD
  • University of Palermo, PharmD
  • University of Palermo, MS
  • University of Palermo, BS

Classes Taught

  • DM530
  • GMSPM702
  • GMSPM730
  • GMSPM801
  • GMSPM802
  • MEDMS220
  • MS710
  • PM702
  • PM730
  • PM801
  • SMDMD530

Publications

  • Published on 7/25/2023

    Seiglie MP, Lepeak L, Miracle S, Cottone P, Sabino V. Stimulation of lateral parabrachial (LPB) to central amygdala (CeA) pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) neurons induces anxiety-like behavior and mechanical allodynia. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2023 Sep; 230:173605. PMID: 37499765.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 9/21/2022

    Seiglie MP, Lepeak L, Velázquez-Sanchez C, Ferragud A, Le T, Cottone P, Sabino V. The Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) System of the Central Amygdala Mediates the Detrimental Effects of Chronic Social Defeat Stress in Rats. eNeuro. 2022; 9(5). PMID: 36566434.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 4/20/2022

    Minnig MA, Blasio A, Ferragud A, Sami YN, Erhard EE, Clark RH, DiLeo A, Giuliano C, Everitt BJ, Cottone P, Sabino V. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide type 1 receptor within the nucleus accumbens core mediates excessive alcohol drinking in alcohol-preferring rats. Neuropharmacology. 2022 Jul 01; 212:109063. PMID: 35460713.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 12/3/2021

    Minnig MA, Park T, Echeveste Sanchez M, Cottone P, Sabino V. Viral-Mediated Knockdown of Nucleus Accumbens Shell PAC1 Receptor Promotes Excessive Alcohol Drinking in Alcohol-Preferring Rats. Front Behav Neurosci. 2021; 15:787362. PMID: 34924973.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 9/10/2021

    Valentina S, Blasio A, Ferragud A, Quadir SG, Iyer MR, Rice KC, Cottone P. Characterization of a differential reinforcement of low rates of responding task in non-deprived male and female rats: Role of Sigma-1 receptors. Neuropharmacology. 2021 12 01; 200:108786. PMID: 34516984.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 7/5/2021

    Quadir SG, Tanino SM, Sami YN, Minnig MA, Iyer MR, Rice KC, Cottone P, Sabino V. Antagonism of Sigma-1 receptor blocks heavy alcohol drinking and associated hyperalgesia in male mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2021 07; 45(7):1398-1407. PMID: 34060104.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 11/20/2020

    Quadir SG, Tanino SM, Rohl CD, Sahn JJ, Yao EJ, Cruz LDR, Cottone P, Martin SF, Sabino V. The Sigma-2 receptor / transmembrane protein 97 (s2R/TMEM97) modulator JVW-1034 reduces heavy alcohol drinking and associated pain states in male mice. Neuropharmacology. 2021 02 15; 184:108409. PMID: 33221481.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 11/16/2020

    Ferragud A, Velazquez-Sanchez C, Minnig MA, Sabino V, Cottone P. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) modulates dependence-induced alcohol drinking and anxiety-like behavior in male rats. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2021 02; 46(3):509-518. PMID: 33191400.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 5/30/2020

    Lee HS, Giunti E, Sabino V, Cottone P. Consummatory, Feeding Microstructural, and Metabolic Effects Induced by Limiting Access to Either a High-Sucrose or a High-Fat Diet. Nutrients. 2020 May 30; 12(6). PMID: 32486207.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 5/28/2020

    Hicks C, Sabino V, Cottone P. The Alpha-1 Adrenergic Receptor Antagonist Prazosin Reduces Binge-Like Eating in Rats. Nutrients. 2020 May 28; 12(6). PMID: 32481494.

    Read at: PubMed

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