19th Annual Lewis L. Judd Young Investigator Symposium at UCSD
Exciting Highlights from the 2024, 19th Annual Lewis L. Judd Young Investigator Symposium at UCSD
Our lab team had the privilege of presenting groundbreaking research at the esteemed 19th Annual Lewis L. Judd Young Investigator Symposium, hosted by the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD. This event showcased a series of innovative studies conducted by our researchers, focusing on various aspects of addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here is a brief overview of the work presented from our team:
Developing a Model of Oral Alcohol Self-Administration in Mice – Alex A. Morgan; Michelle R. Doyle; Paola Campo; Anirudh Vaiyapuri; Kalie Quon-Adams; Mohini R. Iyer; Angelica R. Martinez; Giordano de Guglielmo. Alex presented a new model to better understand alcohol consumption behaviors in mice, paving the way for further studies on alcohol addiction.
Genetic Factors in Alcohol Use Disorder: From Individual and Cellular Differences to Medication Development - Michelle R. Doyle; Selen Dirik; Angelica R. Martinez; Paola Campo; Maria G. Balaguer; Mohini R. Iyer; Xiuhan Li; Alex A. Morgan; Kalie A. Quon-Adams; Adam Shi; Anirudh Vaiyapuri; Nurulain Zaveri; Christine Cheng; and Giordano de Guglielmo. This study delves into the genetic underpinnings of alcohol use disorder, highlighting potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
Perinatal Fentanyl Exposure in a Rat Model: Investigating Long-Term Neurobehavioral Consequences and Implications for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome - Courtney Wood; Maria Balaguer; Giordano de Guglielmo. Courtney presented findings on the long-term effects of fentanyl exposure during the perinatal period, contributing to a better understanding of neonatal opioid withdrawal.
Nicotinic α3β4 Receptor Modulates Addiction-Like Behaviors in Alcohol Dependent Rats - Research by Paola Campo; Michelle R. Doyle; Selen Dirik; Ran Qiao; Angelica R. Martinez; Nurulain T. Zaveri; Marsida Kallupi; and Giordano de Guglielmo focusing on how specific nicotinic receptors influence addiction behaviors in alcohol-dependent rats.
The Protective Role of Cannabidiol in Attenuating Withdrawal Symptoms and Relapse in Nicotine Vapor Self-Administering Rats - Presented by Adam Shi, Selen Dirik, Xiuhan Li, Caitlin Crook, Giordano de Guglielmo, and Marsida Kallupi. This study explores the potential of cannabidiol in mitigating withdrawal symptoms and reducing relapse rates in nicotine-dependent rats.
Neuromodulation of the Nucleus Accumbens Shell via Deep Brain Stimulation: Impacts on Nicotine Vapor Withdrawal Symptoms in Rats - A collaborative effort by Xiuhan Li, Adam Shi, Caitlin Crook, Angelica R. Martinez, and Marsida Kallupi, investigating how deep brain stimulation can alleviate withdrawal symptoms in nicotine-addicted rats.
The symposium was highlighted by a keynote talk from Marsida Kallupi on 'Deciphering Addiction Vulnerability: RATTACA, a Novel Genomic Approach to Predict Cocaine Use Disorder Susceptibility in Rats,' offering insights into genetic factors that could predict susceptibility to cocaine addiction.
Kudos to our students Paola Campo, Adam Shi and Xiuhan Li, for spending extra time after the conference to share their data with the high school students. This outreach activity means a lot for these young researchers. We had 53 students attend from *Crawford High School and San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts, with a mix of students across 9th - 12th grade. The presentations highlighted groundbreaking studies on topics such as alcohol self-administration in mice, genetic factors in alcohol use disorder, the long-term effects of perinatal fentanyl exposure, the role of nicotinic receptors in addiction-like behaviors, the protective effects of cannabidiol on nicotine withdrawal and relapse, and the impact of deep brain stimulation on nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
These presentations not only underscore our lab's dedication to advancing the science of psychiatric disorders and addiction but also highlight our commitment to developing innovative treatments and interventions, as well as our efforts to engage and inspire the next generation of scientists through outreach activities.
Join us in celebrating the achievements of our researchers.
(*) Crawford High School serves a predominantly minority student population, with 98% minority enrollment. The school also has a high rate of economic disadvantage, with 87% of students coming from low-income households. Additionally, Crawford High is located in a Medically Underserved Area and Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, indicating limited access to healthcare resources in the surrounding community. Similarly, the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA) has a student body that is 83% minority, and 54% of the students are economically disadvantaged. SDSCPA is situated in a Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area, highlighting the need for increased educational and healthcare support in this community as well.
