Samir Haj-Dahmane PhD
Samir Haj-Dahmane
PhD
Professor
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Autism; Behavioral Neuroscience; Brain Research; Drug Abuse; Electrophysiology; Ethanol Pharmacology; Imaging In Vivo; Ion channel kinetics and structure; Lipid Homeostasis; Membrane Transport (Ion Transport); Molecular and Cellular Biology; Neurobiology; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Neuropharmacology; Neuropsychiatric Disorders; Neuroscience; Signal Transduction
Professional Summary:
Synaptic transmission is a fundamental mechanism of neuronal communication and information processing in the brain. My Laboratory is interested in delineating the mechanisms by which G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), including endocannabinoid (eCB), serotonin (5-HT) and neuropeptide receptors control synaptic transmission and plasticity in monoaminergic (i.e. serotonin and dopanine) neurons and claustro-cortical neurons.. We are also interested in unraveling how neurodevelopmental exposure to adverse environment, such as stress and prenatal exposure to drug of abuse, a major cause of neurological and psychiatric disorders, alters GPCRs function and synaptic dynamic in monaminergic nuclei and cortical regions. To that end, we employ a multidisciplinary approach that leverage the use of ex-vivo electrophysiological, genetic manipulation, optogenetic, in vivo neuroimaging and behavioral technique to decipher the synaptic mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders.
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Cellular Neuroscience, Wayne State University Medical School (1998)
- Other, Cellular Neuroscience, Saint Louis University (1996)
- PhD, Neuroscience, University Piere et Marie Curie (1993)
- MS, Neuroscience, Univerrsity Piere et Marie Curie (1990)
- BS, Biology, University of Orsay, Paris Sud (1988)
Employment:
- Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. (2020-present)
- Senior Research Scientist (tenured), Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. (2018–2020)
- Adjunct faculty, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo. (2011–2018)
- Senior Research Scientist (tenured), Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo (2011–2018)
- Senior Research Scientist, Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo (1999–2011)
- Research Assistant Professor, Deparrtment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University (1996–1999)
- Postdoctoral/Research Associate, Department of Pharmacology and Physiological Sciences, Saint Louis University (1993–1996)
Awards and Honors:
- NARSAD Young Investigator Award (1999)
- Human Frontier Science Program Fellowship (1994)
- Ph.D. Dissertation Award (1993)
- International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) (1992)
- Servier Pharmaceutical Company Research Award (1991)
- Pharmacologia Award (1991)
- Bayer Pharmaceutical Company Research Award (1990)
- Master Thesis award (1989)
Research Expertise:
- Neurophysiologist: Ex-vivo cellular electrophysiology, Whole- Cell Path Clamp Recording
- Neuroscientist: Ion Channel Function, Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity
- Pharmacologist: Pharmacology of Neurotransmitter Receptors and Signaling
UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:
- Health and Wellness Across the Lifespan
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- September 2022–June 2027
Role of microglia in prenatal ethanol exposure-induced impairment of endocannabinoid signaling.
NIH
Role: Co-Investigator
$1,813,263 - March 2021–February 2025
Synaptic transport of endocannabinoids in the brain
NIH
$2,286,991 - September 2018–August 2023
Prenatal ethanol exposure and nitric oxide signaling in serotonin neurons
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,794,375 - June 2018–March 2023
Prenatal ethanol exposure on executive function
NIH
Role: Co-Investigator
$1,794,375 - March 2020–February 2021
Synaptic transport of endocannabinoids in the brain
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
$679,145 - March 2018–February 2020
Fatty acid binding protein-mediated control of endocannabinoid signaling and addiction
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
$426,635 - December 2010–November 2017
Addiction propensity after prenatal ethanol exposure
NIH
Role: Co-Investigator
$1,641,925 - December 2010–November 2017
Addiction Propensity After Prenatal Ethanol Exposure.
NIH
Role: Co-Investigator
$1,651,617 - May 2016–April 2017
Developing wireless optical approaches to dissect the neuronal circuit underlying cognitive function
Research Institute on Addictions
Role: Principal Investigator
$23,500 - October 2014–September 2015
Fatty acid binding proteins and the regulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity in monoaminergic neurons
SUNY REACH
Role: Principal Investigator
$20,000
Journal Articles:
- Glaser ST, Jayanetti K, Oubraim S, Hillowe A, Frank E, Jong J, Wang L, Wang H, Ojima I, Haj-Dahmane S, Kaczocha M. (2023) Fatty acid binding proteins are novel modulators of synaptic epoxyeicosatrienoic acid signaling in the brain. Scientific reports (Sep), 13(1): 15234. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-42504-4
- Oubraim S, Shen RY, Haj-Dahmane S. (2023) Oxytocin excites dorsal raphe serotonin neurons and bidirectionally gates their glutamate synapses. iScience (May), 26(5): 106707. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.106707
- Wang AL, Micov VB, Kwarteng F, Wang R, Hausknecht KA, Oubraim S, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. (2023) Prenatal ethanol exposure leads to persistent anxiety-like behavior during adulthood indicated by reduced horizontal and vertical exploratory behaviors. Frontiers in neuroscience (Jan), 17: 1163575. doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1163575
- Kwarteng F, Wang R, Micov V, Hausknecht KA, Turk M, Ishiwari K, Oubraim S, Wang AL, Richards JB, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. (2022) Adolescent chronic unpredictable stress leads to increased anxiety and attention deficit/hyperactivity-like symptoms in adulthood. Psychopharmacology (Dec), 239(12): 3779-3791. doi:doi: 10.1007/s00213-022-06242-1. Epub 2022 Nov 9
- Oubraim S, Wang R, Hausknecht K, Kaczocha M, Shen RY, Haj-Dahmane S. (2022) Prenatal ethanol exposure causes anxiety-like phenotype and alters synaptic nitric oxide and endocannabinoid signaling in dorsal raphe nucleus of adult male rats. Transl Psychiatry (Oct), 12(1): 440. doi:doi: 10.1038/s41398-022-02210-7
- Fauzan M, Oubraim S, Yu M, Glaser ST, Kaczocha M, Haj-Dahmane S. (2022) Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 5 Modulates Brain Endocannabinoid Tone and Retrograde Signaling in the Striatum. Front Cell Neurosci (Jul), 16: 936939. doi:doi: 10.3389/fncel.2022.936939. eCollection 2022
- Wang R, Martin CD, Lei AL, Hausknecht KA, Turk M, Micov V, Kwarteng F, Ishiwari K, Oubraim S, Wang AL, Richards JB, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. (2022) Prenatal ethanol exposure impairs sensory processing and habituation to visual stimuli, effects normalized by enrichment of postnatal environmental. Alcohol Clin Exp Res (May), 46(5): 891-906. doi:doi: 10.1111/acer.14818. Epub 2022 Apr 18
- Wang R, Martin CD, Lei AL, Hausknecht KA, Ishiwari K, Oubraim S, Wang AL, Richards JB, Haj-Dahmane S, Shen RY. (2021) Moderate prenatal ethanol exposure leads to attention deficits in both male and female rats. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research (May), 45(5): 1122-1135.
- Kaczocha M, Haj-Dahmane S. (2021) Mechanisms of endocannabinoid transport in the brain. British journal of pharmacology (Mar).
- Oubraim S, Wang R, Hausknecht KA, Shen RY, Haj-Dahmane S. (2021) Tonic Endocannabinoid Signaling Gates Synaptic Plasticity in Dorsal Raphe Nucleus Serotonin Neurons Through Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors. Frontiers in pharmacology (Jan), 12: 691219. doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.691219
Professional Memberships:
- International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS); Regular Member (2017–present)
- American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; Regular Member (2005–present)
- International Brain Research Organization (IBRO); Member (1998–present)
- Society for Neuroscience (SFN); Regular Member (1993–present)
- European Federation of Neurosciences; Member (1989–present)
Presentations:
- "Mechanisms of Endocannabinoid Signaling at Central Synapses”." University at Buffalo, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2019)
- "Fatty Acid Binding Protein 5 and the Synaptic Transport of Endocannabinoid in the Brain”." West Virginia University, Department of Neuroscience, Morgantown, WV. (2019)
- "Stress and Neuroadaptation of Endocannabinoid Signaling in Serotonin Neurons: from Synapses to Behaviors" Stony Brook University, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Anesthesiology, Stony Brook, NY (2018)
- "Constitutive endocannabinoid signaling gates hebbian plasticity of glutamte synapses of dorsal raphe neurons" International Society for Research in Serotonin (2017)
- "Endocannabinoid Signaling and the Regulation of Serotonin System: From Synaptic Circuit to Behaviors" French Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. (2017)
- "Retrograde Endocannabinoid Signaling at Central Synapses" Uniformed Services University, Department of Pharmacology, Bethesda, MD (2015)
- "Optogenetic dissection of endocannabinoid signaling at central synapses" UB Pharmacology and Toxicology seminar series; University at Buffalo (2014)
- "Mechanisms of endocannabinoid signaling at central synapses" SUNY Reach Addiction Research Day; SUNY Reach (2013)
- "Stress, Addictions and Endocannabinoid System: From Synaptic Signaling to Behaviors" University at Buffalo, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (2012)
- "Stress and dugs of abuse converge on serotoninergic system" Winter Conference in Brain Research (2011)
Service Activities:
- NIH Special emphasis Panel ZAA1 JJ (10) – CIFASD Review; Reviewer (2022)
- Canada Excellence Research Chairs, Canada Institutes of Health Research, Canada; Grant Reviewer (2021–present)
- Organizing Committee of SUNY wide graduate research day; Organizing Member (2020–present)
- SUNY Faculty Senate Committee for Graduate Education and Research; Member (2019–present)
- NIH-NAL, Neurotoxicology and Alcohol study section, ad-hoc reviewer (February 2018, October 2018, February 2019, October 2019; February 2020, February 2021, February 2022).; Grant Reviewer (2018–2022)
- Admission Committee, Ph. D Program in Basic Science (PPBS), Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo.; Member (2016–2018)
- NIH-NMB, Neurobiology of Motivated Behavior.; Grant Reviewer (2015)
- Frontier in Pharmacology; Associate Editor (2014–present)
- Frontier in Cellular Neuroscience; Associate Editor (2014–present)
- Frontier in Behavioral Neuroscience; Associate Editor (2014–present)
- SUNY RF REACH grant program; Grant Reviewer (2014)
- Developing a UB Community of Excellence in Addition Research.; Member (2014–2015)
- National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.; Grant Reviewer (2012–2014)
- NIH T32 Post-Doctoral Training Committee, Department of Anesthesiology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo.; Member (2012–present)
- CLIMB UP Undergraduate Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University at Buffalo; Mentor (2011–present)
- UB Neuroscience Research Day; Poster Judge (2010–present)
- Hungarian Scientific Research Agency (PTKA).; Grant Reviewer (2010–2012)
- French National Research Agency, Program INSERM, Avenir; Grant Reviewer (2010)
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), University at Buffalo; Member (2007–2009)
- NIAAA T32 Post-Doctoral Training Committee, Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo.; Member (2007–present)
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), University at Buffalo; Member (2001–2003)
- Neuron. Journal of Neuroscience. Cell Report. Journal of Physiology. PlosOne. Neuropsychopharmacology. Cerebral Cortex. Journal of Neurophysiology. Brain Research. British Journal of Pharmacology. European Journal of Neuroscience. European Journal of Pharmacology. Experimental Neurology. Frontier in Pharmacology. Frontier in Neuroscience. Journal of Neuronal Transmission. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutic. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. Molecular Pharmacology. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology. Neuropharmacology. Neuroscience. Neuro-Report. Neuroscience Letters. Synapse. iScience. (2000–present)