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Department of Pharmacology
Julie Blendy, Ph.D.

Education:

1989

Ph.D. (Pharmacology)

Georgetown University School of Medicine

Post Graduate Training:

1990- 1992	Postdoctoral Fellow	Johns Hopkins University Medical School
1992- 1996	Postdoctoral Fellow	German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg, Germany

Research Summary:
Dr. Blendy’s research is focused on understanding the molecular basis for the biochemical and behavioral changes associated with drug addiction and depression. Alterations in gene expression are likely to be involved in the long term adaptations to a variety of perturbations within the central nervous system. The transcription factors, CREB and CREM, have been identified as key factors mediating the transcriptional response to elevated levels of cAMP and/or Ca++. Evaluation of mice with targeted mutations in CREB and CREM, as well as other genes involved in the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway are critical to establishing a role for these proteins in complex neuropsychiatric diseases. The laboratory seeks to combine classic pharmacology, behavior and molecular analyses in genetic mouse models to better understand pathophysiology and treatment of addiction and depression.

Selected Key Publications:
Walters CL & Blendy JA: Different requirements for cAMP response element binding protein in positive and negative reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse. J Neurosci 21: 9438-9444, 2001.

Conti AC, Cryan JF, Dalvi A, Lucki I & Blendy JA: CREB is essential for the upregulation of BDNF transcription, but not the behavioral or endocrine responses to antidepressant drugs. J Neurosci 22: 3262-3268, 2002.

Walters CL, Kuo Y-C & Blendy JA: Differential distribution of CREB in the mesolimbic dopamine reward pathway. J Neurochem 87: 1237-1244, 2003.

Conti AC, Kuo Y-C, Valentino R & Blendy JA: Inducible cAMP Early Repressor (ICER) regulates corticosterone suppression following tricyclic antidepressant treatment. J Neurosci 24: 1967-1975, 2004.

Kreibich AS & Blendy JA: The role of CREB in stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in mice. J Neurosci 24: 6686-6692, 2004.

Walters CL, Godfrey M, Li X & Blendy JA: Alterations in morphine-induced reward, locomotor activity and thermoregulation in CREB deficient mice. Brain Res 1032: 193-199, 2005.

Blendy JA, Strasser A, Walters CL, Perkins KA, Berkowitz R, Benowitz N & Lerman C: Reduced nicotine reward in obesity: Cross comparison in human and mouse Psychopharm 180: 306-315, 2005.

Walters CL, Cleck JN, Kuo Y & Blendy JA: Mu opiate receptor and CREB activation are required for nicotine reward. Neuron 46: 933-943. 2005.