Research topic: Neurobiology and psychobiology of drug and alcohol Addiction

Research methods: In vivo intra-cerebral manipulation and psychopharmacology: Systemic and intra-cerebral pharmacology; Stereotaxic brain surgeries; Viral-mediated gene delivery and gene silencing; In vivo optogenetic stimulation; Histology.

Behavior: Animal models of moderate and excessive drug/alcohol self-administration, relapse, and drug reward; Assessment of motivational and emotional factors in drug consumption; Animal models of learning and memory.

Biochemistry and molecular biology: DNA, RNA and protein assays, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and microscopy.

Projects in the lab include:

1. Erasure of drug-related memories to prevent relapse to drug seeking and consumption
2. Molecular mechanisms and role of growth factors in learning and memory processes in addiction
3. Epigenetic processes in the development of drug addiction and relapse and in other psychopathologies.
4. Role of the translational machinery in addiction (with Prof. Orna Elroy-Stein)
5. Selected gene expression in addiction (with Prof. Illana Gozes)
6. Role of PARP1, a DNA-repairing protein, in addiction processes (with Prof. Malka Armon)