Previously Completed Pilot Research Projects

Previous Pilot Research Projects

Dopaminergic and Nicotinic Contributions to Bupropion-Induced Alterations in Sensory and Sensory-Motor Gating in Mice: This project seeks to assist in the development of pharmaceutical treatments designed to help people with schizophrenia stop smoking without increasing the risk for adverse side effects, including psychosis. The effects of the anti-depressant drug bupropion on dopamine transmission and sensory-gating, or the ability to adapt to persistent stimuli in the environment, will be examined.
Principal Investigator: Steven J. Siegel, M.D., Ph.D.

Effects of Alcohol on Nicotine Responses in Smokers: Previous research shows that the majority of smokers drink alcohol regularly and that alcohol is a known trigger for smoking relapse. To explore whether alcohol alters nicotine responses in men and women who smoke, this pilot project initially examine d the effects of intravenous alcohol on responses to intravenous nicotine. The project evolved to now explore the effects of drinking alcohol on cigarette smoking, using a newly developed cigarette choice paradigm (nicotine and de-nicotinized Quest cigarettes) or ad lib smoking.
Principal Investigator: Margaret Rukstalis, M.D.

Genetic Influences on Human Tobacco Withdrawal: Individual differences in the susceptibility to nicotine dependence and to the rewarding effects of smoking suggested to researchers that multiple neuronal systems are involved. For example, serotonergic, cholinergic and dopaminergic systems have been implicated in the complex behavior of smoking. In this proposal, the influence of specific dopaminergic and serotonergic genes on acute tobacco withdrawal to nicotine are studied to determine the influence of specific genes on the severity of tobacco withdrawal.
Principal Investigators: Wallace Pickworth, Ph.D. / Andrew Waters, Ph.D.

Genetic Mediators of Smoking Cue Reactivity: This pilot project, funded by an American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant and the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center's Pilot Projects Program, will examine genetic mechanisms hypothesized to influence smoker's reactivity to smoking-related environmental cues. This research will not only enhance our understanding of the addiction process and mechanisms related to addiction and relapse, but it will also guide the development of future state-of-the-art smoking dependence treatments.
Principal Investigator: Bradley Collins, Ph.D.

Genetics and Nicotine Sensitivity "NRT effect on smoking reinforcement by genotype": This pilot project focuses on identifying genetic, personality, and other characteristics of smokers who exhibit greater subjective and behavioral responses to two different forms of nicotine replacement therapy: the "patch" and the nasal spray. Due to the vastly different speed of nicotine delivery in these forms of medication, the different effects of these products have on neurochemical responses may help explain why some smokers are better able than others to quit with one product or the other.
Principal Investigators: Ken Perkins, Ph.D. / Caryn Lerman, Ph.D.

Microarray Analysis of Learning-Related Changes in Hippocampal Gene Expression After Nicotine Treatment: This project seeks to determine if nicotine use can alter learning processes through activation of different genes than those activated during nicotine-free learning. High-throughput microarray analysis will be used to identify those genes whose expression is altered in the hippocampus by nicotine treatment and by learning in the presence of nicotine.
Prinicipal Investigators: Ted Abel, Ph.D. / Thomas Gould, Ph.D.

Nondestructive, long-term drug delivery to isolated CNS regions
The goal of this study is to develop a new method for localized drug delivery within the CNS of mice for extended periods of time to examine the specificity of action and localized mediators of chronic drug effects.  This project will use a novel system to deliver pharmaceutical compounds to discrete CNS structures without the need for destruction of the target zone by using drug-loaded nanoparticles made from biodegradable ploymers of poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA).  This proposal will develop the technology and techniques to utilize drug-loaded nanoparticles in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAC) to interrogate the localized contribution of opiate and dopamine receptors to nicotine-induiced behavioral changes.
Principal Investigator: Steven J. Siegel, M.D., Ph.D.

The Role of CREB in the Positive and Negative Reinforcing Properties of Nicotine: To gain a better understanding of the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms of nicotine dependence, this project will examine the involvement of the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the rewarding and aversive properties of nicotine.
Principal Investigator: Julie A. Blendy, Ph.D.

Cigarette Choice: This study is designed to better understand how people self-administer nicotine when smoking.  Participants are given an initial exposure to two different colored cigarettes, but are blinded to the fact that one cigarette contains nicotine and one is a non-nicotine cigarette.  Participants are then repeatedly asked to choose to puff on the colored cigarettes over a period of time.  The puffs are standardized using smoking topography equipment.
Principal Investigators: Andrew Strasser, Ph.D. / Caryn Lerman, Ph.D.

Smoking Topography and Smoke Exposure: A series of studies which are designed to investigate the relationship between how people puff on cigarettes and their exposure to smoke and carcinogenic compounds.  The first study investigates what aspects of smoking topography, such as puff volume, duration, and intensity, predict amount of smoke exposure.  The second study investigates the reliability of the carbon monoxide breath test, a measure commonly used to assess amount of smoke exposure.  The third study investigates the effect of filter vent blocking on smoke exposure.
Principal Investigators: Andrew Strasser, Ph.D. / Caryn Lerman, Ph.D.

Effects of Atomoxetine on Cigarette Smoking: The goal of this within subject, double blind human behavioral pharmacology pilot study is to examine the effects of atomoxetine versus placebo on cigarette consumption following a brief abstinence period and a programmed cigarette lapse.
Principal Investigators: Margaret Rukstalis, M.D. / Caryn Lerman, Ph.D.

Preliminary Evaluation of Quest Cigarette Advertisements: This study seeks to explore how smokers and nonsmokers perceive Quest® reduced nicotine cigarette advertisements and whether beliefs about Quest® cigarettes correlate with quitting intentions. This study may allow us to better understand how advertisements about new cigarette products influence beliefs about smoking and intentions to quit.
Principal Investigators: Caryn Lerman, Ph.D. / Joseph Cappella, Ph.D.

CYP Metabolic Influences on Behavioral Measures of Nicotine and Ethanol Reinforcement:  This project is a collaborative effort between the TTURC and the University of Toronto to investigate the role of CNS and hepatic CYP's on the behavioral expression of nicotine's enhancement of alcohol consumption and behavioral sensitization to repeated nicotine exposure.  These data will advance our knowledge of the role that variability in metabolic pathways play in the use of nicotine and alcohol.
Principal Investigators:  Michael F. Stromberg, Ph.D. / Rachel Tyndale, Ph.D.