"Translational Models of Cocaine's Effects on Maternal Neglect"

Our lab is interested in infant/child development and behavior, maternal behavior including maternal-in¬fant interactions, and aggressive behavior in both preclin¬ical and clinical models. The lab primarily focuses on translational research on the effects of drugs of abuse on the dynamics of maternal-infant interactions in both human and rodent models. Our methods incorporate genetics, molecular biology, endocrinology, imaging and many types of behavior as we study both normal and abnormal aspects of development following drug use or exposure. Subject areas of interest include among others, infant neglect, teratology, Neuroendocrinology, Behavioral Pharmacology and Developmental Disabilities Research. The role of oxytocin in aggression, maternal response and intergenerational effects of drugs is of par-ticular interest to our lab. We collaborate with numerous research scientists and clinicians to develop and incorpo¬rate the best expertise available for our studies. The work has been primarily funded through NIDA with contribu¬tions from NIMH and other smaller agencies. Our lab trains premedical, graduate and undergraduate students from various departments and curricula who go on to be primarily research scientists, academic professors and physicians.