Neurobiology & Developmental Biology Research Cluster

The Neuroscience and Developmental Biology Research Cluster has a diverse range of faculty from across Marshall University. In recent years a core group of faculty with interest in addiction has started to strategically focus on the issue of substance use disorders (SUDs). It is well established that WV/CA has a significant issue with SUDs. The primary problem are dependence on opioids, nicotine, and alcohol; however, there is also a significant polysubstance abuse issue in the area. Marshall University has made a significant commitment to lead the region in treatment, education and research in the area of addiction. Researchers in our cluster and educators across all disciplines, including the STEM disciplines, work in collaboration at Marshall to address this important regional/state/national issue. The BMR graduate program researchers, collaborating with the College of Science (CoS) are investigating multiple aspects of this issue ranging from clinical-based studies to basic science research. This has provided graduate students with projects that not only provide an excellent research opportunity but can also have a significant impact on the region’s health.

Clinically our research studies have focused on pregnant women with opioid addiction. WV leads the nation in substance use in pregnancy which leads to a high rate of opioid withdrawal in neonates (over 10% of all live births at Marshall Health Network - Cabell Huntington Hospital (the region’s academic health center) also known as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). In basic science research, students are investigating how factors such as prenatal opioid exposure (POE) and sex differences/sex hormones may affect the developing brain in rodent and human cell culture models (Dr. Chris Risher) and in the mouse brain in vivo. Drug interactions and drug metabolism are key factors in addiction. Recent studies by graduate students in Dr. Gary Rankin’s lab have shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms in P450 metabolizing enzymes can play an important role in drug overdose. Dr. Brandon Henderson’s studies investigate the neural basis of nicotine and opioid interactions in adolescent and adult mouse models of operant self-administration. Dr. Mary-Louise Risher’s lab studies the neurobiology of alcohol addiction and specifically the impact that binge drinking has on astrocyte expression and function. Dr. Price Dickson using mouse models of self-administration to identify gene clusters that confer resilience or susceptibility to cocaine or fentanyl reinforcement. Dr. Jessica Childs uses mouse models of self-administration to identify epigenetic and molecular mechanisms that contribute to relapse in substance use disorders.

Several members of the cluster are also involved in the West Virginia Network for Functional Neuroscience and Transcriptomics (WV-NFNT). The scientific vision of the WV-NFNT is to transform neuroscience research in West Virginia (WV) by establishing connections and enabling access to the technologies and expertise needed for high resolution structure-function studies. This will contribute to one of the most impactful neuroscience research areas – circuit and synaptic plasticity. We will build capacity by making strategic faculty and staff hires, adding state-of the art microscopy and spatial transcriptomics infrastructure, and facilitating growth of the neuroscience community across the state. We will expand the capability and diversity of those working in the fields of neuroscience and bioinformatics through support for faculty, post docs, educators, and students, and by implementing specific education and workforce development activities to engage underrepresented students, especially rural, first-generation college students, in these research areas.

Coordinator:

Louise Risher, PhD
risherm@marshall.edu