Our research is focused on the neurobiological mechanisms of addictive disorders, specifically the environmental factors that influence cocaine-associated psychiatric comorbidities (including stress) and their impact on the different stages of development (prenatal, infancy, adolescence and adulthood), as well as gender differences. Cocaine remains the second most commonly used illicit drug in Europe, and levels of cocaine use are particularly high in Spain. The age at which initial consumption takes place is of special significance, as well as the environmental/epigenetic factors that modulate an overt clinical phenotype of cocaine addiction. Chronic consumption of cocaine can lead not only to addiction but also to several associated disorders, including psychiatric complications (depression, psychosis, attentional deficits/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders.

Cocaine remains the second most widely used illicit drug in Europe and levels of cocaine use are particularly high in Spain.

The age at which initial use takes place is of particular importance, as are the environmental/epigenetic factors that modulate the clinical phenotype of cocaine addiction. Chronic cocaine use can lead not only to addiction, but also to several associated disorders, including psychiatric complications (depression, psychosis, attention deficit/hyperactivity and anxiety disorders).

As part of our work, we develop animal models for translational research in humans. In addition, we assess the influence of cannabis, alcohol, heroin and MDMA use on the occurrence of comorbid disorders in cocaine addiction. Our specific objectives are:

a. To identify the neurobiological substrates underlying the increase in drug seeking triggered by social stress (brief and repeated social defeat), as numerous studies indicate that different types of physical and social stress are risk factors in the onset, escalation and relapse of psychostimulant use.

b. To identify the contribution of individual traits underlying the propensity for drug addiction, such as a high novelty-seeking phenotype

c. To study the long-term effects of drug use in adolescence, as this is a critical period in the maturation and final development of the CNS.

d. To study the neurobiological mechanisms of relapse in order to understand addictive disorders as a chronic and persistent disease.
 

We are currently working in collaboration with other groups of the Addictive Disorders Network (RTA), specifically with Dr. Consuelo Guerri, Dr. Jorge Manzanares, Dr. Olga Valverde, Dr. María L. Laorden, Dr. Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca and Dr. Paz Viveros. We have the following behavioural procedures in our laboratory: conditioned place preference (CPP), self-administration (SA), open field, elevated maze, water maze, active and passive avoidance boxes, ethopharmacological evaluation system (social interaction), prepulse inhibition (PPI), recognition test, computerised measurement of motor activity. The following neurochemical techniques are also frequently used in our research: high-precision liquid chromatography system to detect catecholamines in brain tissue; western blot to determine monoamine transporters; corticosterone and ELISA determination.

Col·laboradors/es

• Consuelo Guerri Sirera - Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (València) 
• Gonzalo Haro Cortes - Consorcio Hospitalario Provincial de Castellón 
• Bruno Ribeiro Do Couto - Universidad de Murcia

Equip de treball

• María del Carmen Blanco Gandía - Universidad de Zaragoza 

• Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
• University education
• Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering