The research in our lab generally focuses on investigating how repeated exposure to drugs of abuse leads to long-lasting alterations in neurotransmission and behavior that are thought to mediate the transition from casual drug use to abuse and addiction.  I am particularly interested in investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying these long-lasting alterations, and my project focuses on using viral-mediated gene expression to investigate the role that CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II) plays in the expression of behavioral sensitization (reverse tolerance) to amphetamine.  I am exploring the effects of manipulating CaMKII levels in specific brain regions on rats’ locomotor responding to and self-administration of amphetamine, with the ultimate goal of developing new pharmacotherapies to treat drug addiction.