Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction

Drug addiction is a devastating and highly complex neurobehavioral phenomenon, characterized by multiple etiological factors, stages and behaviors that have proven difficult to study in combination. The Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction (CSNA) aims to identify the biological relationships between the stages and patterns of cocaine addiction and behaviors that predict drug abuse. To uncover these relationships, we will make use of advanced mouse genetic tools—specifically the Collaborative Cross and Diversity Outbred mouse populations and associated computational methods—that enable holistic study of genes, biological molecules and behaviors.

We are working as a complementary team of investigators from several laboratories and institutions, each bringing deep experience and knowledge in the genetic studies of specific aspects of addiction in the laboratory mouse. Areas of focus include cocaine self-administration, impulsivity, reward seeking, acute drug response and circadian dysregulation.

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