Research
Projects
Molecular and neural mechanisms of alcohol addiction
Molecular mechanisms underlying alcohol-drinking behaviors
Ron and Barak, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2016
Role of microRNAs and gene transcription in psychiatric disorders
Genetic alterations play a role in psychiatric disorders, but many changes in gene expression are regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs) rather than DNA polymorphisms. miRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to messenger RNAs (mRNAs), preventing their translation into proteins, or promoting their degradation.
This project aims to characterize the role of miRNAs in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders such as substance abuse and compulsive behaviors, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets.
MDMA and psychedelics and memory processes
We investigate the application of MDMA and other psychedelics within a pharmacobehavioral therapy to manipulate memory reconsolidation processes. By making memories more flexible, we aim to prevent the persistence of unwanted, malicious memories and reduce the risk of relapse in addiction. This approach targets the neural pathways involved in drug-related memories, offering potential new treatments for addiction by disrupting the mechanisms that contribute to addictive behaviors.
Biomarkers for addiction
We focuse on identifying biomarkers of addiction to advance personalized therapeutic interventions. By integrating molecular neuroscience, behavioral analysis, and genetic approaches, we aim to uncover the mechanisms driving addiction and relapse. This comprehensive approach supports the discovery of molecular biomarkers predictive of addiction severity, treatment response, and relapse risk, ultimately contributing to precision medicine in addiction psychiatry.
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Relapse prevention by memory manipulations
Alcoholism is a chronic relapsing disorder, has severe impacts on society, and is responsible for 4% of death world-wide. By combining animal models and studies with alcoholic patients, this project focuses on preventing alcohol craving and relapse in abstinent subjects, by disrupting alcohol-associated memories that cause relapse to alcohol seeking and drinking.
It is increasingly accepted that memories become labile and erasable soon after their retrieval, during a memory reconsolidation process that depends on protein synthesis. We are looking into the molecular mechanisms that underlie reconsolidation of alcohol-associated memories, with the aim of disrupting the memories and preventing relapse to alcoholism. We are also developing in the lab behavioral treatments that will prevent relapse by disrupting memory reconsolidation.
