Vivek Kumar, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Researches behavior and behavioral abnormalities, including addiction, ADHD and depression, using mouse genetics as a platform.
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Insightful article on Portland, Maine's Poet Laureate - Maya Williams. Discussions on a broad set of sensitive topics that need to be openly voiced more (gender, suicide, writing etc). @themainemag t.co/AiXA8j4lMT
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RT @AbePalmer: For people who rely on model organism databases, this is a good chance to stand up and be counted. @GeneNetwork2 @mgi_mous…
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RT @NIAIDFunding: NOT-OD-21-182, Request for Information (RFI) on User Experience with Scientific Data Sources and Tools. Please respond by…
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@IshmailSaboor Really cool, Ishmail.
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RT @TheLabAndField: Pronouns in paper author lists! I’ve also seen them as footnotes like affiliations 🥳
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Reminder that mice belong to a particular sex (not gender). t.co/2ccgDlmLFx
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RT @KMS_OConnell: And if your passion is molecular neurobiology and behavior, come to @jacksonlab to train with the Kumar lab (@Vivekdna) t…
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We are recruiting. Join the Kumar and O'Connell lab to study reward behaviors. t.co/npassaVKSH
Topics
The Kumar lab studies neural circuits in the brain whose misregulation leads to behavioral abnormalities including addiction, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder,and depression. Using mouse molecular genetics as a foundation, and a combination of biochemistry, physiology, and imaging techniques, we dissect these complex behaviors in mammals.
We use two functional genomics approaches in mice—forward genetic ethylnitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screens and quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis—to identify genes and pathways that regulate these behaviors. Powerful and unbiased, forward genetic approaches make no a priori assumptions and only require a clear, well-defined assay for gene discovery. We have used a high-throughput screening pipeline to discover mutants for cocaine response and open-field behavior. Using physical mapping followed by next-generation sequencing, we have identified novel genes and alleles that regulate cocaine response and anxiety-related behaviors.
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Featured ArticleMay 25, 2021Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021 Q&A
To celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021 at JAX, we interviewed some of our Asian and Pacific Islander employees from across our various campuses and job roles about their work at JAX and their heritage. -
Press ReleaseJuly 28, 2020Building better mouse models for addiction research
NIDA grant to Vivek Kumar of JAX will fund development of new preclinical models of addiction. -
Search MagazineMay 22, 2019JAX scientists speak out on the crisis of opioid addiction
JAX scientists are intensifying their efforts to shed light on the genetic and neurobiological causes of addiction, along with the impact of environmental influences. -
Research HighlightDecember 01, 2016Discovering the genetic basis of sleep regulation
Researchers at JAX and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center have identified two genes that play significant roles in maintaining regular sleep.
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Research HighlightApril 05, 2021Using machine learning to analyze mouse behavior
JAX researcher Dr. Vivek Kumar trains computers (using machine learning) to analyze specific mouse behaviors. -
Press ReleaseJuly 10, 2019How do sleep and social interaction affect addiction?
Innovative AI technology captures mouse sleep and social behaviors for the study of their influence on drug intake and addiction. -
Featured ArticleSeptember 20, 2018Discovering new addiction genes
Assistant Professor Vivek Kumar, Ph.D. gave a TED-style talk on addiction as part of the Laboratory’s JAXtaposition speaker series. -
Press ReleaseJune 20, 2016$3.4M grant from National Institute on Drug Abuse for Jackson Laboratory addiction study
JAX Assistant Professor Vivek Kumar will use the five-year grant to pinpoint genetic variants that increase susceptibility to addiction.