TTPAS featured in the BU Med School Campus + Alumni magazine – Click Here<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n
<\/h2>\nSeminar Series: <\/span>Boston University Transformative Training Program in Addiction Science<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
UPCOMING SEMINARS – TBA<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n <\/p>\n
PAST SEMINARS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
May 25th, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\n<\/b>Renato Polimanti, PhD, Assistant Professor, <\/strong>Division of Human Genetics-Psychiatry
\n<\/strong>Yale University School of Medicine
\n<\/strong>presented:\u00a0\u201cAlcohol and Tobacco use disorders: from the genome to the microbiome\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
* * *<\/span><\/p>\nApril 13th, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\n<\/b>Henry R. Kranzler, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry
\nDirector of the Center for Studies of Addiction
\nUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
\n<\/strong>presented: “Identifying Genetic Moderators of Medications to Treat Alcohol Use Disorde<\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/span><\/p>\nMarch 30th<\/strong><\/span>, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\nJulia Cohen-Gilbert<\/strong>, PhD, MPH, Instructor in Psychiatry, <\/span><\/strong>Harvard Medical School
\nAssistant Neuroscientist, McLean Hospital
\n<\/span><\/strong>presented: \u201cAlcohol and the adolescent brain: insights from neuroimaging\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/p>\nJanuary 19th<\/strong><\/span>, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Abby E. Rudolph<\/strong><\/span>, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
\n<\/span><\/strong>Boston University School of Public Health
\n<\/span><\/strong>pres<\/i>ented: “Examining the social context of injection drug use: Social proximity vs. geographic proximity to others who inject drugs”
\n<\/i><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n December <\/span><\/strong>1st, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\n<\/strong>R. Kathryn<\/strong><\/span> McHugh, PhD,\u00a0Assistant Professor of Psychology
\n<\/span><\/strong>Harvard Medical School
\n<\/span><\/strong>presented: “The Co-occurrence of Anxiety and Substance Use Disorders”<\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/p>\nAugust 11th, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\nM. Imad Damaj, PhD,\u00a0Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
\nVirginia Commonwealth University
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented: “Behavioral and Molecular Plasticity During Adolescence\u00a0in\u00a0Mice: Studies With\u00a0Nicotine”<\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/p>\nJune 23rd, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\nLindsay Farrer, PhD, Chief, Biomedical Genetics
\nBU School of Medicine
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented: “Genetics and Personalized Treatment for Substance Use Disorders”
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/p>\nMarch 24th, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\nVivek Kumar, PhD, Associate Professor
\nThe Jackson Laboratory
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented:<\/em>\u201cForward genetic approaches to dissection of reward pathways in mice\u201d
\n<\/em>
\n* * *
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span>February 3rd, 2017<\/span>
\nJosiah Rich, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology
\nThe Warren Alpert Medical School
\nBrown University
\n<\/strong>presented: “A strategic approach to opioid overdose in Rhode Island”
\n<\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/span>* * *<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nPast Seminar Series webpage<\/a><\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/strong>
\n**************************************************************************************************************<\/p>\nN E W S<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
June 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"Kelli](\"\/gms\/files\/2018\/01\/Kelli-Tahaney-pic-e1516117016316-150x150.jpg\")
Kelli Tahaney<\/strong>, a student in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program and a TTPAS trainee, has been awarded the following fellowship F31:<\/strong><\/p>\nAddressing Problem Drinking from the Bottom-Up: An Investigation of the Neural and Behavioral Effects of Cognitive Bias Modification<\/em>
\n<\/strong>The goal of this project is to better understand the mechanisms of Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) as an intervention component for heavy\/at-risk drinkers who are interested in changing their alcohol use. Specifically, the project will use cognitive tasks and neuroimaging pre- and post-CBM to assess neurocognitive changes in cue-reactivity and appetitive bias toward alcohol. Behavioral outcomes will also be assessed to determine how these mechanisms may be associated with changes in drinking behavior.<\/p>\nKelli Tahaney:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>“As a student in TTPAS, I’ve been able to complete additional training opportunities and coursework that complement those of my home program and that were essential in developing this project. Because of TTPAS I’ve been introduced to many accomplished addiction researchers in various programs throughout BU. This fellowship award wouldn’t have been possible without the expertise, mentorship, and support of these TTPAS faculty members who I continue to work with.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"C.](\"\/gms\/files\/2018\/01\/C.-Moore-Aug-2017-150x150.jpg\")
Cassie Moore, a TTPAS trainee and a GPN student awarded research grant to study neurobiological overlaps in compulsive eating behavior and drug addiction<\/strong><\/p>\nCassie Moore<\/strong>, a fourth year Ph.D. student in the Graduate Program for Neuroscience<\/a> (GPN) has been awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA F31) of the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\nHer proposal, titled CRF modulation of reward function in compulsive eating<\/strong><\/em>, aims to investigate underlying neurobiological mechanisms of compulsive eating behavior and examine potential overlaps with drug addiction. Her training under this award includes using viral and transgenic tools (viral-mediated gene knockdown, Cre recombinase-driver animals) in a unique combination with clinically relevant animal models (palatable diet cycling, intra-cranial self stimulation, and intravenous drug self-administration).<\/p>\nCassie is co-sponsored for the award by\u00a0Dr. Pietro Cottone, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry and Director of the Laboratory of Addictive Disorders<\/a> and\u00a0Dr. Klaus Miczek, Professor of Psychology at Tufts University. Cassie is a current graduate student in the joint program of Neuroscience and Biomolecular Pharmacology, as well as in the Transformative Training Program in Addiction Sciences (TTPAS).<\/p>\nCassie Moore<\/strong>: “I am incredibly grateful to the TTPAS program for its training and support these past few years. Being a part of TTPAS has allowed me to engage with students and faculty from across many different disciplines in addiction science, helping to shape me into a more well-rounded scientist a fact that I stressed in my F31 proposal, and no doubt helped to secure my award. I was first introduced to my co-sponsor for this grant, Dr. Klaus Miczek, when he was invited to speak at our TTPAS Seminar Series. At that time, I had the opportunity to have lunch with him and to talk at length about my research and training in the program. There have been many invaluable and exciting opportunities presented to me through participating in the TTPAS program, and I would like to thank the directors, Dr. Farrer and Dr. Saitz, as well as all of the faculty members for their support.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"Emily-Oot-3-150x150\"](\"\/gms\/files\/2018\/01\/Emily-Oot-3-150x150.jpg\")
Emily Oot<\/strong>, a TTPAS trainee and a graduate student in BUSM’s Behavioral Neuroscience PhD program, has received a national research service award to study risk factors for the initiation of alcohol and drug use during early adolescence<\/p>\nThe proposed project, Identifying neurobiological predictors of alcohol use onset during adolescence<\/strong>,<\/em>\u00a0responds to the need for a better understanding of the characteristics\u00a0present prior to initiation of alcohol use that may represent risk factors for use onset during adolescence.\u00a0Early initiation of alcohol use is\u00a0considered one of the most important risk factors in the later development of alcohol and substance use disorders, but it is not yet well understood when initiation of use is driving neurobiological changes that account for this increased vulnerability, and when initiation is largely a proxy for pre-existing traits and neurobiological patterns, which may actually be responsible for the risk. The present prospective study therefore aims to identify those neurobiological and behavioral markers that exist\u00a0prior<\/em>\u00a0to the initiation of alcohol use and may confer risk for earlier use onset. Specifically, the study\u00a0will rely on analysis of\u00a0functional connectivity data from a hippocampus-mediated spatial memory task and a frontally-mediated response inhibition task, in order to test the importance of hippocampus-PFC integration in informing adaptive decision-making and reducing risky behaviors.\u00a0Adolescents are being enrolled into the study prior to the initiation of alcohol or other drug use at 13-14 years old for a\u00a0baseline scanning visit, and are being followed for two years via annual visits and quarterly surveys to assess initiation of alcohol and substance use and other risky behaviors.\u00a0Data collected will provide a foundation for informing neurobehavioral\u00a0targets and strategies for prevention and intervention efforts in maladaptive alcohol and substance use.<\/p>\nEmily Oot<\/strong>: I’m very grateful for the academic training TTPAS has provided, as well as for the opportunity to engage with other impressive students and faculty working in a wide variety of addiction disciplines, both of which have helped prepare me to take on the project I proposed in the grant. Also, without the TTPAS funding I received I would not have had the independence or the flexibility to participate in collaborative research with the two mentors who ultimately served as my co-sponsors on this application (Dr. Marlene Oscar-Berman and Dr. Marisa Silveri), or to get involved with the Adolescent Study in Dr. Silveri’s lab at McLean Hospital, which serves as the parent study for the project. I feel very fortunate to have benefited from all the additional opportunities the TTPAS program provides, and to have this F31 now to be able to devote the second half of my graduate career to a project I’m very excited about.\u009d<\/p>\nFor more information on this award, please click on the following link: https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/pub_releases\/2017-06\/bumc-bms061217.php<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
* * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nOctober 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Cytoplasmic FMR1-Interacting Protein 2 is a Major Genetic Factor Underlying Binge Eating<\/strong><\/p>\nTTPAS members are co-authors: Neema Yazdani, Jiayi Wu, Dr. Evan Johnson, and Dr. Pietro Cottone.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biopsych.2016.10.021<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/pub_releases\/2016-10\/bumc-grf102616.php<\/a><\/p>\nEating disorders are heritable and lethal neuropsychiatric disorders, yet their genetic basis remains poorly understood. We developed a mouse model of binge eating in collaboration with Dr. Pietro Cottone (TTPAS Faculty Member) with the primary goals of facilitating genetic association studies in humans and directly probing the relevant molecular adaptations in the brain that mediate genetic susceptibility to and persistence of compulsive binge eating. There are two main findings to our study. First, we identified cytoplasmic FMR1-interacting protein 2 (Cyfip2<\/em>) as a major genetic factor underlying binge eating in mice. To our knowledge, this represents one of the first examples of a genome-wide significant genetic factor to be identified for binge eating in model organisms or humans. Second, we identified a network of downregulated genes involved in myelination that was associated with binge eating. This observation suggests that decreased myelination is a neuropathological consequence of binge eating. To summarize, our findings implicate both a genetic risk factor and a novel therapeutic avenue to pursue which we hope will ultimately help to save lives and restore healthy eating behaviors.<\/p>\n* * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nMarch 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Dr. Lindsay Farrer <\/a>and Dr. Rick Sherva <\/a>identify genes associated with risk of cannabis dependence:<\/p>\nGenome-wide Association Study of Cannabis Dependence Severity, Novel Risk Variants, and Shared Genetic Risks<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nImportance<\/strong>\u00a0 Cannabis dependence (CAD) is a serious problem worldwide and is of growing importance in the United States because cannabis is increasingly available legally. Although genetic factors contribute substantially to CAD risk, at present no well-established specific genetic risk factors for CAD have been elucidated.<\/p>\nObjective<\/strong>\u00a0 To report findings for DSM-IV CAD criteria from association analyses performed in large cohorts of African American and European American participants from 3 studies of substance use disorder genetics.<\/p>\n<\/span>*Please click on the title above for the full article<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n* * * * *
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nTTPAS trainee Neema Yazdani Receives NIDA NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship Award from NIH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Neema](\"\/gms\/files\/2018\/01\/Neema-Y..jpg\")
Neema Yazdani<\/strong>, a Ph.D. graduate student in the Program in Bimolecular Pharmacology at Boston University, has been awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship (F31)<\/em><\/strong> from National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health. The title of his proposal is \u201cFunctional mechanisms of Hnrnph1 in methamphetamine addictive behaviors.\u201d His training under this award includes characterizing differences in methamphetamine (MA) reward and volitional administration in Hnrnph1+\/- mice through behavioral assessments including conditioned place preference (CPP) and operant oral self-administration. He will also investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying reduced MA sensitivity and reward in my Hnrnph1+\/- mice using brain tissue immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq, and in vivo micro dialysis.
\n*Please click on the title above for the full article.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n * * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nFebruary 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Language of addiction itself can hurt, advocates say<\/a><\/p>\nWindia Rodriguez remembers the sting of the words hurled at her during a hospital stay a few years ago. \u201cCrackhead.\u2019\u2019 \u201cAddict.\u2019\u2019 Especially, she recalls the scorn in the voices that pronounced her \u201cjust an addict.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey treated me like I was beyond hope,\u201d Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n
But she found hope, and these days, free of drugs for four years, Rodriguez makes a point of adding two words to the standard salutation in her 12-step group. \u201cI\u2019m an addict,\u201d she says, \u201cin recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
In so doing, Rodriguez, a Boston resident and regional coordinator for the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, quietly adds her voice to those of researchers and advocates who want to rewrite the lexicon of addiction.<\/p>\n
These advocates seek to excise language that blames or disparages the patient and replace it with medical terms free of judgment. They assert that commonly used words \u2014 \u201cjunkie,\u201d \u201cabuser,\u201d even \u201csubstance abuse\u201d and \u201caddict\u201d \u2014 can discourage people from seeking help, induce health professionals to treat patients harshly, and exacerbate the stigma that bedevils people suffering from drug addiction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing we trade in is hope,\u201d said Dr. Barbara Herbert, Massachusetts chapter president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, a confederation of doctors and other medical workers. \u201cOur biggest enemy is hopelessness. That\u2019s why I think language matters a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/strong>
\n*Please click on the title above for the complete article.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n* * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nDecember 2015<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
TTPAS trainee Neema Yazdani <\/strong>and his co-mentors Dr. Camron Bryant and Evan Johnson report findings from a study in PLos Genetics:
\nhttp:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosgenetics\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pgen.1005713\u00c2<\/a><\/p>\n* * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nResearchers Identify Gene Possibly Linked with Methamphetamine Addiction<\/a><\/p>\n<\/strong>A new study sheds light on the significance of a potential genetic risk factor for drug addiction and possibly other neuropsychiatric disorders. Both genetic and environmental factors are known to influence susceptibility to substance use disorders. However, the genetic basis of these disorders is largely unknown.<\/p>\nResearchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have for the first time identified a gene that is casually associated with the behavioral stimulant response to the drug methamphetamine. The gene, known as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (Hnrnph1) has never been previously implicated in the behavioral effects of psychostimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine.<\/p>\n
*Please click on the above title for the complete article.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Additional reporting on this study:<\/span><\/p>\nMedical Press<\/a><\/p>\nMedicalResearch.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
* * * * *<\/p>\n
March 7, 2014<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
GENOME-WIDE STUDIES IMPLICATE CALCIUM SIGNALING AND NEURONAL POTASSIUM CHANNEL FUNCTION GENES IN ADDICTION TO COCAINE AND OPIATES<\/b> Dr. Lindsay Farrer, Professor and Chief of the Biomedical Genetics division and Director of TTPAS, and his colleagues reported in several recently published papers the discovery of multiple genes associated with risk of addiction to cocaine, opioids, and alcohol. Although it has been recognized for several decades that there is a strong heritable component of addiction to many drugs, robust evidence for contribution of specific genes has been meager, especially for dependence on cocaine or opioids. Dr. Farrer has been studying genetic factors predisposing to substance dependence for more than 15 years in collaboration with other researchers at Yale <\/st1:placename>University <\/st1:placetype>and the University<\/st1:placetype> of Pennsylvania.<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place><\/p>\nAfrican American (AA) and European American (EA) families and unrelated individuals (> 10,000 individuals in total) were recruited and screened for numerous substance dependence diagnoses, including opioids, cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine. Recently, Dr. Farrer and Dr. Richard Sherva, a BUSM faculty member in the Biomedical Genetics division, directed genome-wide association analyses using detailed standardized psychiatric interview and demographic data, and genotypes for several million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained from approximately 5,700 study participants.<\/p>\n
In the study focused on opioid dependence, published in Biological Psychiatry (http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0006322313008263<\/a>), genome-wide significant evidence of association was identified in the AA group with a SNP in the KCNG2 gene which encodes a neuronal voltage gated potassium channel (figure 1).<\/p>\nFigure 1: Association results from the KCNG2 gene on chromosome 18 with opioid dependence<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Research](\"\/gms\/files\/2014\/02\/Research-Rich-Sherva-pic1.jpg-636x445.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nSeveral genes with the strongest evidence for association are clustered in biological pathways involved in the regulation of calcium and potassium levels and synaptic long term potentiation in neurons (figure 2).<\/p>\n
Figure 2: The role of genes identified in GWAS of AA subjects in the canonical pathway \u201csynaptic long term potentiation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Reserch](\"\/gms\/files\/2014\/03\/Reserch-Rich-Sherva-pic1-476x636.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
Seminar Series: <\/span>Boston University Transformative Training Program in Addiction Science<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
UPCOMING SEMINARS – TBA<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n <\/p>\n
PAST SEMINARS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
May 25th, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\n<\/b>Renato Polimanti, PhD, Assistant Professor, <\/strong>Division of Human Genetics-Psychiatry
\n<\/strong>Yale University School of Medicine
\n<\/strong>presented:\u00a0\u201cAlcohol and Tobacco use disorders: from the genome to the microbiome\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
* * *<\/span><\/p>\nApril 13th, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\n<\/b>Henry R. Kranzler, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry
\nDirector of the Center for Studies of Addiction
\nUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
\n<\/strong>presented: “Identifying Genetic Moderators of Medications to Treat Alcohol Use Disorde<\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/span><\/p>\nMarch 30th<\/strong><\/span>, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\nJulia Cohen-Gilbert<\/strong>, PhD, MPH, Instructor in Psychiatry, <\/span><\/strong>Harvard Medical School
\nAssistant Neuroscientist, McLean Hospital
\n<\/span><\/strong>presented: \u201cAlcohol and the adolescent brain: insights from neuroimaging\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/p>\nJanuary 19th<\/strong><\/span>, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Abby E. Rudolph<\/strong><\/span>, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
\n<\/span><\/strong>Boston University School of Public Health
\n<\/span><\/strong>pres<\/i>ented: “Examining the social context of injection drug use: Social proximity vs. geographic proximity to others who inject drugs”
\n<\/i><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n December <\/span><\/strong>1st, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\n<\/strong>R. Kathryn<\/strong><\/span> McHugh, PhD,\u00a0Assistant Professor of Psychology
\n<\/span><\/strong>Harvard Medical School
\n<\/span><\/strong>presented: “The Co-occurrence of Anxiety and Substance Use Disorders”<\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/p>\nAugust 11th, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\nM. Imad Damaj, PhD,\u00a0Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
\nVirginia Commonwealth University
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented: “Behavioral and Molecular Plasticity During Adolescence\u00a0in\u00a0Mice: Studies With\u00a0Nicotine”<\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/p>\nJune 23rd, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\nLindsay Farrer, PhD, Chief, Biomedical Genetics
\nBU School of Medicine
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented: “Genetics and Personalized Treatment for Substance Use Disorders”
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n* * *<\/strong><\/p>\nMarch 24th, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span>
\nVivek Kumar, PhD, Associate Professor
\nThe Jackson Laboratory
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented:<\/em>\u201cForward genetic approaches to dissection of reward pathways in mice\u201d
\n<\/em>
\n* * *
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span>February 3rd, 2017<\/span>
\nJosiah Rich, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology
\nThe Warren Alpert Medical School
\nBrown University
\n<\/strong>presented: “A strategic approach to opioid overdose in Rhode Island”
\n<\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/span>* * *<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nPast Seminar Series webpage<\/a><\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/strong>
\n**************************************************************************************************************<\/p>\nN E W S<\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
June 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Kelli Tahaney<\/strong>, a student in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program and a TTPAS trainee, has been awarded the following fellowship F31:<\/strong><\/p>\nAddressing Problem Drinking from the Bottom-Up: An Investigation of the Neural and Behavioral Effects of Cognitive Bias Modification<\/em>
\n<\/strong>The goal of this project is to better understand the mechanisms of Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) as an intervention component for heavy\/at-risk drinkers who are interested in changing their alcohol use. Specifically, the project will use cognitive tasks and neuroimaging pre- and post-CBM to assess neurocognitive changes in cue-reactivity and appetitive bias toward alcohol. Behavioral outcomes will also be assessed to determine how these mechanisms may be associated with changes in drinking behavior.<\/p>\nKelli Tahaney:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>“As a student in TTPAS, I’ve been able to complete additional training opportunities and coursework that complement those of my home program and that were essential in developing this project. Because of TTPAS I’ve been introduced to many accomplished addiction researchers in various programs throughout BU. This fellowship award wouldn’t have been possible without the expertise, mentorship, and support of these TTPAS faculty members who I continue to work with.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Cassie Moore, a TTPAS trainee and a GPN student awarded research grant to study neurobiological overlaps in compulsive eating behavior and drug addiction<\/strong><\/p>\nCassie Moore<\/strong>, a fourth year Ph.D. student in the Graduate Program for Neuroscience<\/a> (GPN) has been awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA F31) of the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\nHer proposal, titled CRF modulation of reward function in compulsive eating<\/strong><\/em>, aims to investigate underlying neurobiological mechanisms of compulsive eating behavior and examine potential overlaps with drug addiction. Her training under this award includes using viral and transgenic tools (viral-mediated gene knockdown, Cre recombinase-driver animals) in a unique combination with clinically relevant animal models (palatable diet cycling, intra-cranial self stimulation, and intravenous drug self-administration).<\/p>\nCassie is co-sponsored for the award by\u00a0Dr. Pietro Cottone, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry and Director of the Laboratory of Addictive Disorders<\/a> and\u00a0Dr. Klaus Miczek, Professor of Psychology at Tufts University. Cassie is a current graduate student in the joint program of Neuroscience and Biomolecular Pharmacology, as well as in the Transformative Training Program in Addiction Sciences (TTPAS).<\/p>\nCassie Moore<\/strong>: “I am incredibly grateful to the TTPAS program for its training and support these past few years. Being a part of TTPAS has allowed me to engage with students and faculty from across many different disciplines in addiction science, helping to shape me into a more well-rounded scientist a fact that I stressed in my F31 proposal, and no doubt helped to secure my award. I was first introduced to my co-sponsor for this grant, Dr. Klaus Miczek, when he was invited to speak at our TTPAS Seminar Series. At that time, I had the opportunity to have lunch with him and to talk at length about my research and training in the program. There have been many invaluable and exciting opportunities presented to me through participating in the TTPAS program, and I would like to thank the directors, Dr. Farrer and Dr. Saitz, as well as all of the faculty members for their support.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Emily Oot<\/strong>, a TTPAS trainee and a graduate student in BUSM’s Behavioral Neuroscience PhD program, has received a national research service award to study risk factors for the initiation of alcohol and drug use during early adolescence<\/p>\nThe proposed project, Identifying neurobiological predictors of alcohol use onset during adolescence<\/strong>,<\/em>\u00a0responds to the need for a better understanding of the characteristics\u00a0present prior to initiation of alcohol use that may represent risk factors for use onset during adolescence.\u00a0Early initiation of alcohol use is\u00a0considered one of the most important risk factors in the later development of alcohol and substance use disorders, but it is not yet well understood when initiation of use is driving neurobiological changes that account for this increased vulnerability, and when initiation is largely a proxy for pre-existing traits and neurobiological patterns, which may actually be responsible for the risk. The present prospective study therefore aims to identify those neurobiological and behavioral markers that exist\u00a0prior<\/em>\u00a0to the initiation of alcohol use and may confer risk for earlier use onset. Specifically, the study\u00a0will rely on analysis of\u00a0functional connectivity data from a hippocampus-mediated spatial memory task and a frontally-mediated response inhibition task, in order to test the importance of hippocampus-PFC integration in informing adaptive decision-making and reducing risky behaviors.\u00a0Adolescents are being enrolled into the study prior to the initiation of alcohol or other drug use at 13-14 years old for a\u00a0baseline scanning visit, and are being followed for two years via annual visits and quarterly surveys to assess initiation of alcohol and substance use and other risky behaviors.\u00a0Data collected will provide a foundation for informing neurobehavioral\u00a0targets and strategies for prevention and intervention efforts in maladaptive alcohol and substance use.<\/p>\nEmily Oot<\/strong>: I’m very grateful for the academic training TTPAS has provided, as well as for the opportunity to engage with other impressive students and faculty working in a wide variety of addiction disciplines, both of which have helped prepare me to take on the project I proposed in the grant. Also, without the TTPAS funding I received I would not have had the independence or the flexibility to participate in collaborative research with the two mentors who ultimately served as my co-sponsors on this application (Dr. Marlene Oscar-Berman and Dr. Marisa Silveri), or to get involved with the Adolescent Study in Dr. Silveri’s lab at McLean Hospital, which serves as the parent study for the project. I feel very fortunate to have benefited from all the additional opportunities the TTPAS program provides, and to have this F31 now to be able to devote the second half of my graduate career to a project I’m very excited about.\u009d<\/p>\nFor more information on this award, please click on the following link: https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/pub_releases\/2017-06\/bumc-bms061217.php<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
* * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nOctober 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Cytoplasmic FMR1-Interacting Protein 2 is a Major Genetic Factor Underlying Binge Eating<\/strong><\/p>\nTTPAS members are co-authors: Neema Yazdani, Jiayi Wu, Dr. Evan Johnson, and Dr. Pietro Cottone.<\/p>\n
http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biopsych.2016.10.021<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/pub_releases\/2016-10\/bumc-grf102616.php<\/a><\/p>\nEating disorders are heritable and lethal neuropsychiatric disorders, yet their genetic basis remains poorly understood. We developed a mouse model of binge eating in collaboration with Dr. Pietro Cottone (TTPAS Faculty Member) with the primary goals of facilitating genetic association studies in humans and directly probing the relevant molecular adaptations in the brain that mediate genetic susceptibility to and persistence of compulsive binge eating. There are two main findings to our study. First, we identified cytoplasmic FMR1-interacting protein 2 (Cyfip2<\/em>) as a major genetic factor underlying binge eating in mice. To our knowledge, this represents one of the first examples of a genome-wide significant genetic factor to be identified for binge eating in model organisms or humans. Second, we identified a network of downregulated genes involved in myelination that was associated with binge eating. This observation suggests that decreased myelination is a neuropathological consequence of binge eating. To summarize, our findings implicate both a genetic risk factor and a novel therapeutic avenue to pursue which we hope will ultimately help to save lives and restore healthy eating behaviors.<\/p>\n* * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nMarch 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Dr. Lindsay Farrer <\/a>and Dr. Rick Sherva <\/a>identify genes associated with risk of cannabis dependence:<\/p>\nGenome-wide Association Study of Cannabis Dependence Severity, Novel Risk Variants, and Shared Genetic Risks<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nImportance<\/strong>\u00a0 Cannabis dependence (CAD) is a serious problem worldwide and is of growing importance in the United States because cannabis is increasingly available legally. Although genetic factors contribute substantially to CAD risk, at present no well-established specific genetic risk factors for CAD have been elucidated.<\/p>\nObjective<\/strong>\u00a0 To report findings for DSM-IV CAD criteria from association analyses performed in large cohorts of African American and European American participants from 3 studies of substance use disorder genetics.<\/p>\n<\/span>*Please click on the title above for the full article<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n* * * * *
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nTTPAS trainee Neema Yazdani Receives NIDA NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship Award from NIH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nNeema Yazdani<\/strong>, a Ph.D. graduate student in the Program in Bimolecular Pharmacology at Boston University, has been awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship (F31)<\/em><\/strong> from National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health. The title of his proposal is \u201cFunctional mechanisms of Hnrnph1 in methamphetamine addictive behaviors.\u201d His training under this award includes characterizing differences in methamphetamine (MA) reward and volitional administration in Hnrnph1+\/- mice through behavioral assessments including conditioned place preference (CPP) and operant oral self-administration. He will also investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying reduced MA sensitivity and reward in my Hnrnph1+\/- mice using brain tissue immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq, and in vivo micro dialysis.
\n*Please click on the title above for the full article.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n * * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nFebruary 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Language of addiction itself can hurt, advocates say<\/a><\/p>\nWindia Rodriguez remembers the sting of the words hurled at her during a hospital stay a few years ago. \u201cCrackhead.\u2019\u2019 \u201cAddict.\u2019\u2019 Especially, she recalls the scorn in the voices that pronounced her \u201cjust an addict.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey treated me like I was beyond hope,\u201d Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n
But she found hope, and these days, free of drugs for four years, Rodriguez makes a point of adding two words to the standard salutation in her 12-step group. \u201cI\u2019m an addict,\u201d she says, \u201cin recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n
In so doing, Rodriguez, a Boston resident and regional coordinator for the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, quietly adds her voice to those of researchers and advocates who want to rewrite the lexicon of addiction.<\/p>\n
These advocates seek to excise language that blames or disparages the patient and replace it with medical terms free of judgment. They assert that commonly used words \u2014 \u201cjunkie,\u201d \u201cabuser,\u201d even \u201csubstance abuse\u201d and \u201caddict\u201d \u2014 can discourage people from seeking help, induce health professionals to treat patients harshly, and exacerbate the stigma that bedevils people suffering from drug addiction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing we trade in is hope,\u201d said Dr. Barbara Herbert, Massachusetts chapter president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, a confederation of doctors and other medical workers. \u201cOur biggest enemy is hopelessness. That\u2019s why I think language matters a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/strong>
\n*Please click on the title above for the complete article.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n* * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nDecember 2015<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
TTPAS trainee Neema Yazdani <\/strong>and his co-mentors Dr. Camron Bryant and Evan Johnson report findings from a study in PLos Genetics:
\nhttp:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosgenetics\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pgen.1005713\u00c2<\/a><\/p>\n* * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\nResearchers Identify Gene Possibly Linked with Methamphetamine Addiction<\/a><\/p>\n<\/strong>A new study sheds light on the significance of a potential genetic risk factor for drug addiction and possibly other neuropsychiatric disorders. Both genetic and environmental factors are known to influence susceptibility to substance use disorders. However, the genetic basis of these disorders is largely unknown.<\/p>\nResearchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have for the first time identified a gene that is casually associated with the behavioral stimulant response to the drug methamphetamine. The gene, known as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (Hnrnph1) has never been previously implicated in the behavioral effects of psychostimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine.<\/p>\n
*Please click on the above title for the complete article.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Additional reporting on this study:<\/span><\/p>\nMedical Press<\/a><\/p>\nMedicalResearch.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
* * * * *<\/p>\n
March 7, 2014<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
GENOME-WIDE STUDIES IMPLICATE CALCIUM SIGNALING AND NEURONAL POTASSIUM CHANNEL FUNCTION GENES IN ADDICTION TO COCAINE AND OPIATES<\/b> Dr. Lindsay Farrer, Professor and Chief of the Biomedical Genetics division and Director of TTPAS, and his colleagues reported in several recently published papers the discovery of multiple genes associated with risk of addiction to cocaine, opioids, and alcohol. Although it has been recognized for several decades that there is a strong heritable component of addiction to many drugs, robust evidence for contribution of specific genes has been meager, especially for dependence on cocaine or opioids. Dr. Farrer has been studying genetic factors predisposing to substance dependence for more than 15 years in collaboration with other researchers at Yale <\/st1:placename>University <\/st1:placetype>and the University<\/st1:placetype> of Pennsylvania.<\/st1:placename><\/st1:place><\/p>\nAfrican American (AA) and European American (EA) families and unrelated individuals (> 10,000 individuals in total) were recruited and screened for numerous substance dependence diagnoses, including opioids, cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine. Recently, Dr. Farrer and Dr. Richard Sherva, a BUSM faculty member in the Biomedical Genetics division, directed genome-wide association analyses using detailed standardized psychiatric interview and demographic data, and genotypes for several million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained from approximately 5,700 study participants.<\/p>\n
In the study focused on opioid dependence, published in Biological Psychiatry (http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0006322313008263<\/a>), genome-wide significant evidence of association was identified in the AA group with a SNP in the KCNG2 gene which encodes a neuronal voltage gated potassium channel (figure 1).<\/p>\nFigure 1: Association results from the KCNG2 gene on chromosome 18 with opioid dependence<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nSeveral genes with the strongest evidence for association are clustered in biological pathways involved in the regulation of calcium and potassium levels and synaptic long term potentiation in neurons (figure 2).<\/p>\n
Figure 2: The role of genes identified in GWAS of AA subjects in the canonical pathway \u201csynaptic long term potentiation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
PAST SEMINARS<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n May 25th, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span> <\/p>\n * * *<\/span><\/p>\n April 13th, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span> * * *<\/span><\/p>\n March 30th<\/strong><\/span>, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span> <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n January 19th<\/strong><\/span>, 2018 at 3:00 pm<\/span> * * *<\/strong> December <\/span><\/strong>1st, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span> * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n August 11th, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span> * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n June 23rd, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span> * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n March 24th, 2017 at 3:00 pm<\/span> <\/strong> <\/p>\n June 2017<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Addressing Problem Drinking from the Bottom-Up: An Investigation of the Neural and Behavioral Effects of Cognitive Bias Modification<\/em> Kelli Tahaney:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>“As a student in TTPAS, I’ve been able to complete additional training opportunities and coursework that complement those of my home program and that were essential in developing this project. Because of TTPAS I’ve been introduced to many accomplished addiction researchers in various programs throughout BU. This fellowship award wouldn’t have been possible without the expertise, mentorship, and support of these TTPAS faculty members who I continue to work with.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cassie Moore<\/strong>, a fourth year Ph.D. student in the Graduate Program for Neuroscience<\/a> (GPN) has been awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA F31) of the National Institutes of Health.<\/p>\n Her proposal, titled CRF modulation of reward function in compulsive eating<\/strong><\/em>, aims to investigate underlying neurobiological mechanisms of compulsive eating behavior and examine potential overlaps with drug addiction. Her training under this award includes using viral and transgenic tools (viral-mediated gene knockdown, Cre recombinase-driver animals) in a unique combination with clinically relevant animal models (palatable diet cycling, intra-cranial self stimulation, and intravenous drug self-administration).<\/p>\n Cassie is co-sponsored for the award by\u00a0Dr. Pietro Cottone, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry and Director of the Laboratory of Addictive Disorders<\/a> and\u00a0Dr. Klaus Miczek, Professor of Psychology at Tufts University. Cassie is a current graduate student in the joint program of Neuroscience and Biomolecular Pharmacology, as well as in the Transformative Training Program in Addiction Sciences (TTPAS).<\/p>\n Cassie Moore<\/strong>: “I am incredibly grateful to the TTPAS program for its training and support these past few years. Being a part of TTPAS has allowed me to engage with students and faculty from across many different disciplines in addiction science, helping to shape me into a more well-rounded scientist a fact that I stressed in my F31 proposal, and no doubt helped to secure my award. I was first introduced to my co-sponsor for this grant, Dr. Klaus Miczek, when he was invited to speak at our TTPAS Seminar Series. At that time, I had the opportunity to have lunch with him and to talk at length about my research and training in the program. There have been many invaluable and exciting opportunities presented to me through participating in the TTPAS program, and I would like to thank the directors, Dr. Farrer and Dr. Saitz, as well as all of the faculty members for their support.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The proposed project, Identifying neurobiological predictors of alcohol use onset during adolescence<\/strong>,<\/em>\u00a0responds to the need for a better understanding of the characteristics\u00a0present prior to initiation of alcohol use that may represent risk factors for use onset during adolescence.\u00a0Early initiation of alcohol use is\u00a0considered one of the most important risk factors in the later development of alcohol and substance use disorders, but it is not yet well understood when initiation of use is driving neurobiological changes that account for this increased vulnerability, and when initiation is largely a proxy for pre-existing traits and neurobiological patterns, which may actually be responsible for the risk. The present prospective study therefore aims to identify those neurobiological and behavioral markers that exist\u00a0prior<\/em>\u00a0to the initiation of alcohol use and may confer risk for earlier use onset. Specifically, the study\u00a0will rely on analysis of\u00a0functional connectivity data from a hippocampus-mediated spatial memory task and a frontally-mediated response inhibition task, in order to test the importance of hippocampus-PFC integration in informing adaptive decision-making and reducing risky behaviors.\u00a0Adolescents are being enrolled into the study prior to the initiation of alcohol or other drug use at 13-14 years old for a\u00a0baseline scanning visit, and are being followed for two years via annual visits and quarterly surveys to assess initiation of alcohol and substance use and other risky behaviors.\u00a0Data collected will provide a foundation for informing neurobehavioral\u00a0targets and strategies for prevention and intervention efforts in maladaptive alcohol and substance use.<\/p>\n Emily Oot<\/strong>: I’m very grateful for the academic training TTPAS has provided, as well as for the opportunity to engage with other impressive students and faculty working in a wide variety of addiction disciplines, both of which have helped prepare me to take on the project I proposed in the grant. Also, without the TTPAS funding I received I would not have had the independence or the flexibility to participate in collaborative research with the two mentors who ultimately served as my co-sponsors on this application (Dr. Marlene Oscar-Berman and Dr. Marisa Silveri), or to get involved with the Adolescent Study in Dr. Silveri’s lab at McLean Hospital, which serves as the parent study for the project. I feel very fortunate to have benefited from all the additional opportunities the TTPAS program provides, and to have this F31 now to be able to devote the second half of my graduate career to a project I’m very excited about.\u009d<\/p>\n For more information on this award, please click on the following link: https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/pub_releases\/2017-06\/bumc-bms061217.php<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n October 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cytoplasmic FMR1-Interacting Protein 2 is a Major Genetic Factor Underlying Binge Eating<\/strong><\/p>\n TTPAS members are co-authors: Neema Yazdani, Jiayi Wu, Dr. Evan Johnson, and Dr. Pietro Cottone.<\/p>\n http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biopsych.2016.10.021<\/a> Eating disorders are heritable and lethal neuropsychiatric disorders, yet their genetic basis remains poorly understood. We developed a mouse model of binge eating in collaboration with Dr. Pietro Cottone (TTPAS Faculty Member) with the primary goals of facilitating genetic association studies in humans and directly probing the relevant molecular adaptations in the brain that mediate genetic susceptibility to and persistence of compulsive binge eating. There are two main findings to our study. First, we identified cytoplasmic FMR1-interacting protein 2 (Cyfip2<\/em>) as a major genetic factor underlying binge eating in mice. To our knowledge, this represents one of the first examples of a genome-wide significant genetic factor to be identified for binge eating in model organisms or humans. Second, we identified a network of downregulated genes involved in myelination that was associated with binge eating. This observation suggests that decreased myelination is a neuropathological consequence of binge eating. To summarize, our findings implicate both a genetic risk factor and a novel therapeutic avenue to pursue which we hope will ultimately help to save lives and restore healthy eating behaviors.<\/p>\n * * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n March 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr. Lindsay Farrer <\/a>and Dr. Rick Sherva <\/a>identify genes associated with risk of cannabis dependence:<\/p>\n Genome-wide Association Study of Cannabis Dependence Severity, Novel Risk Variants, and Shared Genetic Risks<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Importance<\/strong>\u00a0 Cannabis dependence (CAD) is a serious problem worldwide and is of growing importance in the United States because cannabis is increasingly available legally. Although genetic factors contribute substantially to CAD risk, at present no well-established specific genetic risk factors for CAD have been elucidated.<\/p>\n Objective<\/strong>\u00a0 To report findings for DSM-IV CAD criteria from association analyses performed in large cohorts of African American and European American participants from 3 studies of substance use disorder genetics.<\/p>\n <\/span>*Please click on the title above for the full article<\/strong><\/p>\n TTPAS trainee Neema Yazdani Receives NIDA NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship Award from NIH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n * * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n February 2016<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Language of addiction itself can hurt, advocates say<\/a><\/p>\n Windia Rodriguez remembers the sting of the words hurled at her during a hospital stay a few years ago. \u201cCrackhead.\u2019\u2019 \u201cAddict.\u2019\u2019 Especially, she recalls the scorn in the voices that pronounced her \u201cjust an addict.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey treated me like I was beyond hope,\u201d Rodriguez said.<\/p>\n But she found hope, and these days, free of drugs for four years, Rodriguez makes a point of adding two words to the standard salutation in her 12-step group. \u201cI\u2019m an addict,\u201d she says, \u201cin recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n In so doing, Rodriguez, a Boston resident and regional coordinator for the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, quietly adds her voice to those of researchers and advocates who want to rewrite the lexicon of addiction.<\/p>\n These advocates seek to excise language that blames or disparages the patient and replace it with medical terms free of judgment. They assert that commonly used words \u2014 \u201cjunkie,\u201d \u201cabuser,\u201d even \u201csubstance abuse\u201d and \u201caddict\u201d \u2014 can discourage people from seeking help, induce health professionals to treat patients harshly, and exacerbate the stigma that bedevils people suffering from drug addiction.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing we trade in is hope,\u201d said Dr. Barbara Herbert, Massachusetts chapter president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, a confederation of doctors and other medical workers. \u201cOur biggest enemy is hopelessness. That\u2019s why I think language matters a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/strong> December 2015<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n TTPAS trainee Neema Yazdani <\/strong>and his co-mentors Dr. Camron Bryant and Evan Johnson report findings from a study in PLos Genetics: * * * * *<\/strong><\/p>\n Researchers Identify Gene Possibly Linked with Methamphetamine Addiction<\/a><\/p>\n <\/strong>A new study sheds light on the significance of a potential genetic risk factor for drug addiction and possibly other neuropsychiatric disorders. Both genetic and environmental factors are known to influence susceptibility to substance use disorders. However, the genetic basis of these disorders is largely unknown.<\/p>\n Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have for the first time identified a gene that is casually associated with the behavioral stimulant response to the drug methamphetamine. The gene, known as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (Hnrnph1) has never been previously implicated in the behavioral effects of psychostimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine.<\/p>\n *Please click on the above title for the complete article.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Additional reporting on this study:<\/span><\/p>\n Medical Press<\/a><\/p>\n MedicalResearch.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n * * * * *<\/p>\n March 7, 2014<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n GENOME-WIDE STUDIES IMPLICATE CALCIUM SIGNALING AND NEURONAL POTASSIUM CHANNEL FUNCTION GENES IN ADDICTION TO COCAINE AND OPIATES<\/b> Dr. Lindsay Farrer, Professor and Chief of the Biomedical Genetics division and Director of TTPAS, and his colleagues reported in several recently published papers the discovery of multiple genes associated with risk of addiction to cocaine, opioids, and alcohol. Although it has been recognized for several decades that there is a strong heritable component of addiction to many drugs, robust evidence for contribution of specific genes has been meager, especially for dependence on cocaine or opioids. Dr. Farrer has been studying genetic factors predisposing to substance dependence for more than 15 years in collaboration with other researchers at African American (AA) and European American (EA) families and unrelated individuals (> 10,000 individuals in total) were recruited and screened for numerous substance dependence diagnoses, including opioids, cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine. Recently, Dr. Farrer and Dr. Richard Sherva, a BUSM faculty member in the Biomedical Genetics division, directed genome-wide association analyses using detailed standardized psychiatric interview and demographic data, and genotypes for several million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained from approximately 5,700 study participants.<\/p>\n In the study focused on opioid dependence, published in Biological Psychiatry (http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0006322313008263<\/a>), genome-wide significant evidence of association was identified in the AA group with a SNP in the KCNG2 gene which encodes a neuronal voltage gated potassium channel (figure 1).<\/p>\n Figure 1: Association results from the KCNG2 gene on chromosome 18 with opioid dependence<\/strong><\/p>\n Several genes with the strongest evidence for association are clustered in biological pathways involved in the regulation of calcium and potassium levels and synaptic long term potentiation in neurons (figure 2).<\/p>\n Figure 2: The role of genes identified in GWAS of AA subjects in the canonical pathway \u201csynaptic long term potentiation.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Renato Polimanti, PhD, Assistant Professor, <\/strong>Division of Human Genetics-Psychiatry
\n<\/strong>Yale University School of Medicine
\n<\/strong>presented:\u00a0\u201cAlcohol and Tobacco use disorders: from the genome to the microbiome\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Henry R. Kranzler, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry
\nDirector of the Center for Studies of Addiction
\nUniversity of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
\n<\/strong>presented: “Identifying Genetic Moderators of Medications to Treat Alcohol Use Disorde<\/em><\/p>\n
\nJulia Cohen-Gilbert<\/strong>, PhD, MPH, Instructor in Psychiatry, <\/span><\/strong>Harvard Medical School
\nAssistant Neuroscientist, McLean Hospital
\n<\/span><\/strong>presented: \u201cAlcohol and the adolescent brain: insights from neuroimaging\u201d
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Abby E. Rudolph<\/strong><\/span>, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
\n<\/span><\/strong>Boston University School of Public Health
\n<\/span><\/strong>pres<\/i>ented: “Examining the social context of injection drug use: Social proximity vs. geographic proximity to others who inject drugs”
\n<\/i><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>R. Kathryn<\/strong><\/span> McHugh, PhD,\u00a0Assistant Professor of Psychology
\n<\/span><\/strong>Harvard Medical School
\n<\/span><\/strong>presented: “The Co-occurrence of Anxiety and Substance Use Disorders”<\/em><\/p>\n
\nM. Imad Damaj, PhD,\u00a0Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology
\nVirginia Commonwealth University
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented: “Behavioral and Molecular Plasticity During Adolescence\u00a0in\u00a0Mice: Studies With\u00a0Nicotine”<\/em><\/p>\n
\nLindsay Farrer, PhD, Chief, Biomedical Genetics
\nBU School of Medicine
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented: “Genetics and Personalized Treatment for Substance Use Disorders”
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
\nVivek Kumar, PhD, Associate Professor
\nThe Jackson Laboratory
\n<\/em><\/strong>presented:<\/em>\u201cForward genetic approaches to dissection of reward pathways in mice\u201d
\n<\/em>
\n* * *
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span>February 3rd, 2017<\/span>
\nJosiah Rich, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology
\nThe Warren Alpert Medical School
\nBrown University
\n<\/strong>presented: “A strategic approach to opioid overdose in Rhode Island”
\n<\/em>
\n<\/strong><\/span>* * *<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nPast Seminar Series webpage<\/a><\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n**************************************************************************************************************<\/p>\nN E W S<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Kelli Tahaney<\/strong>, a student in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program and a TTPAS trainee, has been awarded the following fellowship F31:<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The goal of this project is to better understand the mechanisms of Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) as an intervention component for heavy\/at-risk drinkers who are interested in changing their alcohol use. Specifically, the project will use cognitive tasks and neuroimaging pre- and post-CBM to assess neurocognitive changes in cue-reactivity and appetitive bias toward alcohol. Behavioral outcomes will also be assessed to determine how these mechanisms may be associated with changes in drinking behavior.<\/p>\nCassie Moore, a TTPAS trainee and a GPN student awarded research grant to study neurobiological overlaps in compulsive eating behavior and drug addiction<\/strong><\/p>\nEmily Oot<\/strong>, a TTPAS trainee and a graduate student in BUSM’s Behavioral Neuroscience PhD program, has received a national research service award to study risk factors for the initiation of alcohol and drug use during early adolescence<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/pub_releases\/2016-10\/bumc-grf102616.php<\/a><\/p>\n
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\n<\/strong><\/p>\nNeema Yazdani<\/strong>, a Ph.D. graduate student in the Program in Bimolecular Pharmacology at Boston University, has been awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship (F31)<\/em><\/strong> from National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health. The title of his proposal is \u201cFunctional mechanisms of Hnrnph1 in methamphetamine addictive behaviors.\u201d His training under this award includes characterizing differences in methamphetamine (MA) reward and volitional administration in Hnrnph1+\/- mice through behavioral assessments including conditioned place preference (CPP) and operant oral self-administration. He will also investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying reduced MA sensitivity and reward in my Hnrnph1+\/- mice using brain tissue immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq, and in vivo micro dialysis.
\n*Please click on the title above for the full article.
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\n*Please click on the title above for the complete article.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\nhttp:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosgenetics\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pgen.1005713\u00c2<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Research](\"\/gms\/files\/2014\/02\/Research-Rich-Sherva-pic3-636x445.png\")
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