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M. Imad Damaj,
Ph.D. Professor 1220 East Broad Street Molecular Medicine Research Building Room 3044 P.O. Box 980613 Richmond, Virginia 23298-0613 Phone: (804) 828-1676 E-mail: mdamaj@vcu.edu Publications: selected | PubMed Curriculum vitae |
Education: University of Paris XI, 1991
Research interests:
Drugs of abuse; molecular neuroscience; behavioral pharmacology;
mouse genetics, drug development
Our goal is to understand molecular and pharmacological neurobiological
mechanisms in behaviors related to addiction and dependence. We use
genetic and pharmacological approaches to integrate the biochemical,
molecular and anatomical levels of investigation to a better understanding
of addictive behavior.
A primary focus of our laboratory is the role of neuronal nicotinic
acetylcholine receptors in brain function, addiction and development, with
a focus on behaviors related to nicotine addiction and smoking in both
adult and adolescence. We are also interested in signaling molecules
downstream of nicotinic receptors, such as CREB, CaM kinase II and IV and
phosphatases that may mediate long-term changes in behavior following
exposure to nicotine and other drugs of abuse.
The role of other neuronal systems in nicotine dependence is an important
aspect of our research focus. We are studying the role of the neuronal
cannabinoid system in the development of nicotine addiction. In
collaboration with the Lichtman’s group at VCU, we are using genetically
modified mice and selective pharmacological ligands for the endocannbinoid
system to study nicotine dependence and pharmacology.
We recently initiated with the groups of Drs. Kendler, Cheng and Miles at
VCU important collaborative studies using genetic mapping and functional
genomics to understand the molecular mechanisms approaches involved in
nicotine exposure in selected inbred mouse strains.
These basic and preclinical approaches are providing our group with new
targets and potential pharmacotherapies for nicotine dependence. For this
aspect of drug development, we work with both Drs. Ivy Carroll (Research
Triangle Park in North Carolina) and Ron Lukas (Barrow Neurological
Institute in Phoenix) as part of The National Cooperative Drug Discovery
Group (NCDDG), which collaborates with the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
to discover novel treatments for tobacco smoking cessation.
Finally, our work continues on the role of nicotinic receptors in
psychostimulants and alchohol addiction as well as chronic pain and
inflammation. We believe that integrating molecular and systems levels
will be necessary to understand the neurobiological basis for addictive
behaviors. Our laboratory is funded by several NIH grants and contracts.
Carroll FI, Muresan AZ, Blough BE, Navarro HA, Mascarella
SW, Eaton JB, Huang X, Damaj MI, and Lukas RJ. (2011) Synthesis of
2-(Substituted Phenyl)-3,5,5-trimethylmorpholine Analogues and Their
Effects on Monoamine Uptake, Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function,
and Behavioral Effects of Nicotine.
J Med Chem. Epub ahead of print
Carroll FI, Blough BE, Mascarella SW, Navarro HA, Eaton JB, Lukas RJ, and Damaj MI. (2010)
Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Efficacy and Pharmacological Properties
of 3-(Substituted phenyl)-2β-substituted Tropanes.
J Med Chem. Epub ahead of print.
George O, Lloyd A, Carroll FI, Damaj MI, and Koob GF. (2011) Varenicline blocks nicotine intake in
rats with extended access to nicotine self-administration.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 213(4):715-22.
Zhang Y, Gilliam A, Maitra R, Damaj MI, Tajuba JM, Seltzman HH, and Thomas BF. (2010)
Synthesis and biological evaluation of bivalent ligands for the
cannabinoid 1 receptor.
J Med Chem. 53(19):7048-60.
Abdrakhmanova GR, Blough BE, Nesloney C, Navarro HA, Damaj MI, and Carroll FI. (2010) In vitro and in
vivo characterization of a novel negative allosteric modulator of neuronal
nAChRs. Neuropharmacology. 59(6):511-7.
Abdrakhmanova GR, AlSharari S, Kang M, Damaj MI, and
Akbarali HI. (2010) {alpha}7-nAChR-mediated suppression of
hyperexcitability of colonic dorsal root ganglia neurons in experimental
colitis.
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 299(3):G761-8.
Damaj MI, Grabus SD, Navarro HA, Vann RE, Warner JA, King LS, Wiley JL,
Blough BE, Lukas RJ, Carroll FI. (2010) Effects of hydroxymetabolites of
bupropion on nicotine dependence behavior in mice.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 334(3):1087-95.
Lukas RJ, Muresan AZ, Damaj MI, Blough BE, Huang X, Navarro HA, Mascarella SW, Eaton JB,
Marxer-Miller SK, and Carroll FI. (2010) Synthesis and characterization of
in vitro and in vivo profiles of hydroxybupropion analogues: aids to
smoking cessation.
J Med Chem. 53(12):4731-48.
Jackson KJ, Marks MJ, Vann RE,
Chen X, Gamage TF, Warner JA, and Damaj MI. (2010) Role of alpha5
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in pharmacological and behavioral
effects of nicotine in mice.
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 334(1):137-46.
Jackson KJ, Carroll FI,
Negus SS, and Damaj MI. (2010) Effect of the selective kappa-opioid
receptor antagonist JDTic on nicotine antinociception, reward, and
withdrawal in the mouse.
Psychopharmacology (Berl). 210(2):285-94
Carroll FI, Blough
BE, Mascarella SW, Navarro HA, Eaton JB, Lukas RJ, and Damaj MI. (2010)
Synthesis and biological evaluation of bupropion analogues as potential
pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation.
J Med Chem. 53(5):2204-14.
Carroll FI, Ma W, Deng L, Navarro
HA, Damaj MI, and Martin BR. (2010) Synthesis, nicotinic acetylcholine
receptor binding, and antinociceptive properties of 3'-(substituted
phenyl)epibatidine analogues. Nicotinic partial agonists.
J Nat Prod. 73(3):306-12.