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