Duke Nicotine Researh Series: Interacting Brain Systems--Identification of a septo-habenular circuit that controls nicotine craving: Unexpected role for a non-neural cell population

This is part of the Duke Nicotine Research Series

Paul J. Kenny, PhD, is Ward-Coleman Professor and Chair of the Nash Family Department of Neuroscience. Dr. Kenny also serves as the Director of the Drug Discovery Institute. His multidisciplinary research involves the study of behavioral paradigms, physiological analyses, and the molecular underpinnings of neurobehavioral disorders. Dr. Kenny is actively investigating the brains of rodents to uncover new signaling cascades that may play a role in addiction-like behaviors. The Kenny Laboratory is focused on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of drug addiction, obesity and schizophrenia, with an emphasis on the role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in these processes. They employ a multidisciplinary approach that includes complex behavioral paradigms, physiological analyses and molecular biological techniques. Current projects include the utilization of vector-based delivery systems to modify gene expression in the brains of rodents to identify novel signaling cascades that may play a role in addiction-like behaviors

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