TRAINING IN PHARMACOLOGY, TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 2009 ASPET SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY at the UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
The Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine is pleased to offer this research project as part of the 2009 summer ASPET SURF Training Program administered by the Department of Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics.  Students interested in this project are advised to contact Professor Richtand to discover more about the project, and to learn what your responsibilities will be during the ten-week research training program.
2009 ASPET SURF Project #:  09 – 14 Faculty co-Mentors: Neil M. Richtand, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor Department of Psychiatry College of Medicine Email:  Neil.Richtand@uc.edu Gary Gudelsky, Ph.D. Professor Pharmaceutical Sciences College of Pharmacy Email: Gary.Gudelsky@uc.edu	Richtand Gudelsky
Neurochemical and behavioral response to prescription medication during development
Research Program Description:  Our research focus is the study of mechanisms underlying behavioral plasticity.  Our goal is to understand behavioral plasticity of neuronal systems directly relevant to psychiatric disorders, and to apply this knowledge to prevention and treatment of psychiatric conditions.  We study “animal models” of psychiatric conditions at both the behavioral and molecular levels.  Current research projects are listed below: Dopamine receptor neurobiology:   We have been characterizing the basic neurobiology of the D3 dopamine receptor, because of the importance of this receptor subtype in substance dependence and psychotic disorders.  Our studies have characterized the inhibitory behavioral function of the dopamine D3 receptor, and we have described the importance of loss of this inhibitory function in neuropsychiatric disease.   We are testing the hypotheses that the: (a) repetitive D3 receptor stimulation contributes to development of sensitization through a decrease in D3 receptor-mediated inhibition; and (b) increased D3nf expression directs altered receptor localization and subsequent release of D3-receptor mediated inhibition.  [Reference: Richtand NM. “Behavioral sensitization, alternative splicing, and d3 dopamine receptor-mediated inhibitory function.”  Neuropsychopharmacology. 2006; 31(11):2368-75] Psychosis prevention in schizophrenia:   This project is a clinical trial of "psychosis prevention” drugs in “animal models” of schizophrenia.  Evidence from our lab and others suggests that serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonists, dopamine D3 receptor antagonists, and antidepressant medications may be effective primary prevention drugs for first-episode psychosis.  We are determining the efficacy of these interventions in preventing abnormal behavior in developmental "animal models" of schizophrenia.
ASPET SURF Project Description:  While prescription psychotropic medications are commonly used in children and adolescents, the behavioral and neurochemical consequences remain largely unexplored. The ASPET SURF student will determine the effects of prescription medication exposure on behavioral and neurochemical indices in the developing rodent.  Measures will be compared between effects in the normally developing rodent and a developmental “animal model” of schizophrenia.  Studies may focus on behavioral measures, measurements of gene expression, or both depending upon the individual student's interest. The student is expected to gain experience in experimental design and data analysis.  The student will be expected to meet regularly with both the mentor and members of the research group for presentations, progress reports, and guidance.  The ASPET SURF student will be expected to make a significant contribution to the research project, resulting in co-authorship of manuscripts incorporating the research results.