Our faculty pursue research on a wide variety of topics within the discipline, especially these below.
Our neuropharmacology research focuses on how brain reward systems are altered by substance abuse to understand addiction and develop better treatments. Key areas include studying neurotransmitters like dopamine and GABA, pain therapeutics beyond opioids, and pharmacotherapies for addiction. Researchers use advanced molecular tools like optogenetics and gene editing. They also investigate neuropeptide systems linked to motivation and neurological disorders, and melatonin receptors for treating sleep and mood disorders, combining basic science with clinical applications.
Addictions research explores how brain reward systems and neurotransmitters like dopamine, GABA, and neuropeptides drive drug-seeking and relapse. Labs study how prenatal and environmental factors influence addiction risk, using techniques such as optogenetics, gene editing, electrophysiology, and neuroimaging. Research also focuses on developing novel pharmacotherapies targeting receptors like urotensin II, neuropeptide S, and endocannabinoid systems to improve treatments for addiction and related disorders.
Our department studies pain from molecules to behavior to better understand its mechanisms and develop safer, non-opioid treatments. Research spans novel drug targets, neural signaling and ion channels, and the biology of chronic pain, opioid tolerance, and addiction using advanced experimental approaches.
Researchers in our department focus on how oligodendrocytes and astrocytes develop and function, focusing on ion channels and iron metabolism to understand myelination, brain signaling, and neurodegeneration, with the goal of developing new therapies.
Our department’s neuroscience-focused researchers integrate cellular, circuit, and behavioral approaches to study cognition, brain function, and neuroplasticity. Labs investigate working memory, glial cell function, and how prenatal or environmental factors affect neurotransmission and addiction risk, using tools like EEG, MRI, optogenetics, and behavioral models. This multidisciplinary work connects basic neuroscience to therapies for cognitive and neurological disorders.
Beyond bench research, our faculty help students develop as scientists and health professionals by linking classroom learning to real-world skills. They focus on building scientific identity, fostering belonging, and supporting career exploration through evidence-based teaching, assessment tools, and career development programs, aiming to prepare and retain a diverse, skilled STEM and health care workforce.