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About Us

Introduction to CTNA

The gap between basic research advances and new clinical insights and treatments remains a critical obstacle to progress in the field of alcoholism research. This translational neuroscience mission is the enduring focus of the Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol (CTNA). CTNA conducts groundbreaking molecular neuroscience, molecular genetics, functional and chemical neuroimaging, and psychopharmacology studies in the service of providing new insights to bridge the gap between basic and clinical research.

Mission

The CTNA's mission is to promote the translation of basic neuroscience advances into clinical neuroscience insights in the study of alcoholism. The CTNA conducts interdisciplinary research by combining neurochemical, physiological, and behavioral measurements within studies.

Objectives

The CTNA is designed to bridge the gap between the basic and clinical neuroscience of alcoholism. Using cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, the main objectives are:

  • To understand how sensitivity to reward contributes to the vulnerability to alcoholism.
  • To investigate the role of glutamate circuits to the vulnerability to alcoholism.
  • To characterize the factors influencing the transition from vulnerability to habitual use.
  • To develop and test novel treatments for alcoholism