Research Department: Department of Psychiatry Graduation Date: May 2019
Abstract: The aim of our study was to gain a better understanding of the underlying processes of extinction-induced inhibition of drug craving. Previous data show that extinction-training the cocaine self-administering chambers induces an up-regulation of both GluA1 and GluA2 AMPA receptors in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell. In addition, a viral-mediated increase of GluA1 in the NAc shell decreases drug-seeking behavior. Thus, we hypothesized that extinction-training will reduce cocaine-seeking in cocaine self-administering rats. Our animal model showed that rats with extinction training demonstrate a decrease in the motivation to self-administer cocaine compared to the rats without extinction training. These results may have important implications for developing circuit specific treatments for cocaine-addiction.
What does research mean to you? It is hard to describe the feeling when one is able to contribute something that will forever stay in our universal pool of knowledge. The numbers of pathways, cures, drugs, techniques yet to be discovered are endless. Conducting research allowed me to add a small piece of information to the big picture and made me appreciate even more all the discoveries that make patient care more effective.
Tell us about your journey. One of my main interests is addiction. I have watched way too many of my peers falling off their path due to their addiction no matter how much I tried to help them. That is why I started out as a psychology major (which I later changed to neuroscience), so I could help not simply my peers, but people in general. I wanted to understand the underlying processes and figure out how much of the biological and the environmental factors play a role in developing an addiction. I found it fascinating that certain people get addicted immediately after using a certain substance while others can go a lifetime using the same exact drug without developing an actual addiction. The Green Fellowship was a perfect opportunity to further explore addiction, so I applied.
Luckily, I was matched with my first lab choice and I got to work with Dr. David Self and Dr. Daniel Guzman. I have never done research before the Green Fellowship, so I was pretty nervous on my first day. Daniel walked me through the surgeries and answered every one of my questions patiently which made it possible to perform my first brain surgery the very next day. (under supervision of course J). Slowly but surely, I learned the things I was supposed to do and got my very own project. I worked hard and long hours for two whole months and I still did not have any data. It was not easy to keep myself motivated, but looking back I would not change a thing. I needed all that disappointment in order to feel the tremendous joy I felt when my data was finally significant.
Besides learning about all the laboratory techniques and how to deal with failure, I also learned how to be a great leader and take care of people for whom I am responsible by watching others in charge. I think this was a very important part of my journey. During this internship, my job was to master all the necessary skills and do the best job possible. However, eventually as I am advancing in my carrier path, I am going to be responsible for others who do jobs I used to do, so acquiring these leadership skills was crucial for me. I know it is pretty vague, but let me provide an example. Daniel can finish an IV surgery in 20 minutes. My first 5-10 surgeries took me 45-60 minutes each. He could simply take over or scream at me when I made a mistake, but he did not. Instead, he sat there patiently for hours and whenever I made a mistake he simply said: “ Try again”. He made me realize that once I reached his position I would no longer be responsible for the job, rather, I would be responsible for the people who do the job. U.T.S.W. is one big family and no matter how insignificant I felt as an undergrad working alongside all these brilliant scientists, they always found a way to make me feel appreciated.
The Green Fellowship allowed me to become a better scientist, leader and a person in general. During my internship. I met and learned from brilliant minds and became friends with many people along the way.
Advice for Future Green Fellows
First, study hard. You will actually need to use knowledge from the classroom the way you have probably never used it before and you will need good grades to get accepted. Secondly, be honest in your essays. It is very important that you are matched with a lab in which you are interested. Also, do not hesitate to reach out to previous Green Fellows for advice. We have all been at your position so don’t be shy. Once you are selected, talk to your P.I. as soon as possible and ask questions. Understanding your research is crucial if you want to succeed. Finally, have fun. Work hard and put in the hours necessary, but enjoy what you do. Go explore the campus, talk to people, make friends and remember, there is always free food somewhere on campus :) Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.( [email protected])