Neuropharmacology and Addiction

One line of research focuses on the contribution of early environmental factors to individual differences in the vulnerability for risk consumption of alcohol and alcohol use disorder, but also responses to drugs used in treatment of addiction (PI Ingrid Nylander). The long-term consequences of disruption of early developmental processes, either by rearing factors or adolescent alcohol and/or nicotine consumption, for brain function, behaviour, alcohol consumption and alcohol-induced effects later in life are studied. In trying to understand mechanisms for these long-term effects of early life stress or adolescent drug use, we investigate transmitter networks of relevance for stress, reward and reinforcement, e.g. opioid, glutamate and monoamine circuits. Methodology within molecular biology, neurobiology and experimental behaviour are combined in the projects, for tissue analysis of receptors, transmitters and mRNA, in vivo chronoamperometry and behavioural profiling. Effects on gene expression and epigenetic processes are investigated in collaboration with Dr E Comasco (Department of Neuroscience).

Another line of research (PI Anne-Lie Svensson) focuses on the role of neurosteroids for neurogenesis and for interactive processes ongoing in neurodegenerative diseases. The research line emphasis on neuroprotective properties of neurosteroids in in vitro cell models.

A third line of research focuses on underlying mechanisms for schizophrenia (PI Åsa Konradsson-Geuken). By utilizing innovative methods (e.g. amperometry, opto- and pharmacogenetics in combination with behavioral experiments), the aim is to understand basal cognitive functioning, the underlying network activity and neurochemistry involved in cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia. The long-term goal is to provide knowledge on how cognitive aspects of drug treatments for schizophrenia can be improved.