The basic goal of the lab is to map out neuronal pathways that influence behavior related to drug and alcohol abuse with an emphasis on the role of genetics. We use a wide variety of methods including quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, gene expression microarray analysis, Next Generation sequencing methods such as RNA-seq, various neurochemical assays, and behavioral testing.
The work is conducted primarily in genetically defined strains of mice and rats. A major focus of the lab is in defining the role of CNS gene expression in genetic differences in acute alcohol sensitivity and tolerance, and how that contributes to pathological alcohol-seeking behavior.
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- BS, Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, Virginia
- PhD, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado (Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. V. Gene Erwin)
- Post-doctoral training, Behavior Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (Dr. Richard Deitrich)
- Sabbatical training, Deep Sequencing Computation and Analysis, BioFrontiers Institute (Dr. Robin Dowell)
Affiliations
- Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program
- Toxicology Program
- Faculty Fellow, Institute for Behavioral Genetics
Research Interest
- Behavioral responses to alcohol
- Quantitative RNA sequencing
- Systems genetics
Publications and Presentations
Bennett B, Larson C, Richmond PA, Odell AT, Saba LM, Tabakoff B, Dowell R, Radcliffe RA (2015) Quantitative trait locus mapping of acute functional tolerance in the LXS recombinant inbred strains. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 39:611-620. PMID:25833023 PMCID:PMC4384187 DOI:10.1111/acer.12678
Dowell R, Odell A, Richmond P, Malmer D, Halper-Stromberg E, Bennett B, Larson C, Leach S, Radcliffe RA (2016) Genome characterization of the selected long- and short-sleep mouse lines. Mamm Genome 27:574-586. PMID:27651241 PMCID:PMC5110614 DOI:10.1007/s00335-016-9663-6
Mandt BH, Larson C, Fay T, Bludeau P, Allen RM, Deitrich RA, Radcliffe RA (2018) Quantitative trait loci for sensitivity to acute ethanol and ethanol consummatory behaviors in rats. Alcohol 66:55-67 PMID: 29182922 NIHMS ID: NIHMS899477 DOI:10.1016/j.alcohol.2017.08.002