Molecular and Cellular Neuropharmacology – MCNP

Topics

• Molecular, cellular and circuit analysis of addiction, stress effects, neuropsychiatric disorders
• The neuropharmacology and neurochemistry of neurotransmitter, neuropeptide, neuroendocrine and neuromodulator regulation as they relate to normal neuronal function and dysfunction and drugs of abuse
• Neurotransmitter and neuropeptide synthesis and regulation
• Screening for modulators of neuropsychiatric drugs and drugs of abuse
• Epigenetic regulation of gene expression and-omics analysis relevant to addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders
• Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying experimental and therapeutic approaches to addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders
• Integration and propagation of electrical signals within the context of normal neuronal physiology and in simple circuit function and dysfunction

Shared Interests and Overlaps

There are shared interests in psychiatric disorders with Pathophysiological Basis of Mental Disorders (PBMD). Applications involving mechanisms of psychiatric disorders at the cellular and molecular level – including “-omics” data analysis are reviewed in MCNP. Applications that emphasize the broad spectrum of issues and are directly related to mental disorders using in vitro and in vivo approaches and a variety of methods, including cellular and molecular techniques are reviewed in PBMD.

There are shared interests with Neuropathophysiology of Addictive Substances (NAS) related to drugs of abuse.  Applications with a primary focus on cellular or molecular mechanisms underlying the negative effects of drugs of abuse are reviewed in MCNP. Applications examining effects of addictive substances on behavior or systems level effects can be reviewed in NAS.

There are shared interests in the molecular mechanisms of complex brain disorders with Biology of Complex Brain Disorders (BCBD)  Applications that emphasize pain, epilepsy and mood disorders or the mechanisms of action of the psychotherapeutic agents involved are reviewed in MCNP. Applications that emphasize the molecular and cellular mechanisms of such disorders, particularly autism and schizophrenia are reviewed in BCBD.

There are shared interests in the neurobiological actions of drugs of abuse and psychoactive agents with Neural Basis of Motivated Behavior (NBMB) . Applications that primarily emphasize basic molecular and cellular mechanisms of such agents and are focused on pharmacological actions are reviewed in MCNP. Applications that examine the neuronal circuits and system level effects mediating behavior are reviewed in NBMB.

There are shared interests in neuroendocrinology with Behavioral Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology, Rhythms, and Sleep (BNRS). Applications that emphasize the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuroendocrinology are reviewed in MCNP. Applications involving the neurobiological basis of behavior with a focus on neuroendocrinological processes are reviewed in BNRS.

There are shared interests in the role of addiction and drug abuse on normal and disordered cognitive processes with Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology Study Section (BRLE). Applications that emphasize the underlying cellular or molecular mechanisms of addiction or abuse are reviewed in MCNP. Applications that emphasize the behavioral aspect are reviewed in BRLE.

There are shared interests in the neurobiology of pain with Neurobiology of Pain and Itch (NPI).  Applications that emphasize cellular and molecular mechanisms of substances used to treat these disorders are reviewed in MCNP. Applications that emphasize the neurobiology of pain, analgesia and itch are reviewed in NPI.

There are shared interests in pharmacological and physiological studies of neurotransmitters at the cellular and molecular level with Cellular Signaling and Regulatory Systems (CSRS) Study Section.  Applications focused on the role of neurotransmitter interactions with receptors in understanding normal neuronal function and dysfunction involving addiction, stress, neuropsychiatric disorders, and drugs of abuse are reviewed in MCNP. Applications focused on neurotransmitter interactions with receptors to study signal transduction mechanisms are reviewed in CSRS.

There are shared interests in the neurophysiology of neurotransmitters, electrical coupling, neuropeptides, and neuromodulators as they relate to neuronal circuit function with the  Neuronal Communications (NC) study section. Applications that focus on how they influence neuronal communication and circuit dynamics can be reviewed in NC. Applications investigating their roles in normal neuronal physiology and circuit function or dysfunction, particularly in the context of substance use and neuropsychiatric disorders, can be reviewed in MNCP.