Deniz Bagdas, DVM, PhD

Deniz Bagdas, DVM, PhD, is a Research Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and a behavioral neuropharmacologist with extensive expertise in behavioral neuroscience and neuropharmacology. Her research encompasses a wide range of topics, including the role of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in modulating addiction, pain, and inflammation; behaviors and causal mechanisms in the comorbidity of chronic pain and addiction; dopaminergic mechanisms in motivational behaviors; the impact of tobacco constituents on nicotine use; and the examination of sex differences in addiction and pain-related behaviors.

Dr. Bagdas also holds a Master’s degree in philosophy, which has profoundly shaped her understanding of the philosophy of science as well as the complex relationships between science, society, and values. This philosophical background has refined her approach to research, prompting her to consider not only the scientific questions at hand but also the ethical dimensions and societal implications of her work.

Currently, Dr. Bagdas serves as a co-investigator at the Yale Center for the Study of Tobacco Product Use and Addiction (Yale TCORS), where she examines the impact of tobacco constituents on nicotine intake, with a particular focus on nicotine addiction behaviors in both adolescents and adults. Additionally, she is investigating phasic dopamine mechanisms in nicotine addiction and how tobacco constituents may enhance nicotine reinforcement by regulating dopamine signaling.

As a Principal Investigator on a K01 award, Dr. Bagdas leads her own research on the co-morbidity of chronic pain, pain-associated negative affect, and nicotine use behaviors. Her work delves into the neurobiological and neurochemical mechanisms that link these conditions, specifically focusing on the dopaminergic mechanisms underlying both chronic pain and enhanced nicotine use.

Dr. Bagdas is committed to understanding the sex differences in addiction, pain, and related behaviors. Her research contributes to advancing the development of personalized cessation methods and treatment strategies for women in response to these complexities.