Section: Rotations

Andrew R. Tapper, Ph.D.

Academic Role: Assistant Professor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Psychiatry

Other Affiliation(s):
   Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute
   Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
   Program in Neuroscience

Rotation Projects:

1.  Identify the role of specific nicotinic receptor subtypes in nicotine withdrawal.  This project combines novel rodent models of nicotine dependence and incorporates behavior, pharmacology, and neurophysiology to understand withdrawal.

2.   There is mounting evidence that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are involved in other forms of drug addiction besides nicotine.  A second project involves determining the role of nAChRs in mediating the addictive properties of alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.

Because of their wide distribution in the CNS, neuronal nAChRs have been linked to a variety of neurological diseases ranging from Parkinson’s disease to depression to epilepsy.  Additional rotation projects are available to elucidate the function of nicotinic receptors in these neurological conditions.  

Office: 115
Phone: 508 856 8164
E-mail: Andrew.Tapper@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Neurobiology, Electrophysiology, Acetylcholine, Nicotine, Parkinson's Disease

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