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Caroline E. Bass, Ph.D. ~ Principal Investigator I earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Virginia Commonwealth University with Dr. Billy Martin in 2002. My doctoral research focused on mechanisms of tolerance to Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (D9-THC), the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, and the behavioral pharmacology of the cannabinoid receptor (CB1) inverse agonist, rimonabant. As a post-doc with Dr. Ernest Terwilliger at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and supported by an individual NRSA from NIDA, I learned how to design and make viral vectors. At the time these were mainly developed for gene therapy applications, but I used them as tools to explore the neurobiological mechanisms of D9-THC tolerance and dependence. In 2006, I was appointed as an Instructor in Physiology and Pharmacology working with Drs. Allyn Howlett and David C.S. Roberts at Wake Forest School of Medicine. I obtained a K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award to study how CB1 and dopamine (DA) D2 receptors interact in regulating cocaine-seeking behaviors, and was promoted to Research Assistant Professor. During this time I developed adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) for new, sophisticated approaches to probe neural circuits. In 2011, I joined the faculty in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University at Buffalo. Currently my laboratory uses a combination of sophisticated viral approaches, circuit manipulation strategies, pharmacology and sophisticated behavioral models to understand how VTA dopamine and GABA systems control reward seeking behaviors. Outside the lab I am busy with two crazy little kids who are budding scientists, Lorien (9) and Lana (5). We enjoy playing with our kitties, getting miso soup, and of course movie night! |
Current Members
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Mauricio Suarez, Ph.D. ~ Postdoctoral Associate
Born in Medellín, Colombia, and raised in White Plains, NY, I received my Ph.D in Behavioral Neuroscience at the University at Buffalo, where I studied under Dr. Alexis Thompson. I focused on the regulation of cocaine-mediated behavior by Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a peptide found in key areas of the brain known to influence drug-related behaviors, and has been shown to be markedly reduced in these areas after prolonged cocaine exposure. My research focuses on rat models of cocaine use disorders, but with genetic technologies to probe neural circuits. In the laboratory of Dr. Bass, I study the role of VTA GABA projection neurons through the use of behavioral models designed to model drug seeking and taking. |
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Justin McGraw, Ph.D. ~ Postdoctoral Associate
My name is Justin McGraw and I joined Dr. Bass's lab in July 2018. I received my Ph.D. in neuroscience in May 2018 working with Dr. Howard Casey Cromwell at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. As a neuroscientist, I study brain mechanisms of drug addiction and the impact of drug use on the brain and behavior to uncover potential targets for treatment. I have been interested primarily in alcohol's effects on motivation and its impact on the way we process rewards to guide important aspects of choice and decision-making. I am open to studying all drugs of abuse because they impact similar brain areas involved in these processes and can have devastating effects on physical and mental health if misused or abused. As a member of Dr. Bass's lab, I am looking to expand my technical and methodological skill set in pharmacology and toxicology in order to examine these problems most effectively. Ultimately, my goals as a scientist are to improve the prognosis for problematic drug use and substance use disorders, enhance our understanding of the factors involved in drug use, abuse, and addiction, and alleviate negative attitudes toward drug use in order to ameliorate the drug crisis and improve quality of life. At home, I enjoy spending quality time with my wife Jessica and my son Wyatt. If I have any spare time, I like to golf, weightlift, and play hockey. "Let's Go Buffalo!" |
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Kimberly Bernosly-Smith, Ph.D. ~ Associate Professor and Chair,
D'Youville College My research focus has centered on uncovering the neurological and behavioral changes that occur as a result of substance abuse. Specifically, I am interested in impulsive behavior and how it influences addiction. We know humans who abuse drugs show are much more impulsive than individuals who do not use drugs. We also know that addicts have specific changes in a part of the brain involving the neurochemical called dopamine. Both animal and human studies show that impulsiveness and dopamine correlate, such that addicts with enhanced dopamine are more impulsive. In addition, drug addiction enhances the dopamine systems of the brain. So the question remains, are individuals who use drugs more impulsive to begin with (and therefore more likely to start use drugs), or do the drugs they abuse enhance the dopamine system and make them more impulsive (and therefore more likely to continue to use drugs). |
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Raquel Lima, B.S., M.S. ~ Research Technician/Lab Manager
A native from Argentina, received my B.S. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires School of Chemistry and Natural Sciences. I then received my M.S. degree in Medicinal Chemistry from the School of Pharmacy, SUNY Buffalo. |
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Martin Leigh ~ M.S. student (Pharmacology and Toxicology)
I graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University at Buffalo. I was also a student athlete on UB's swim team. Now I am pursing my Masters in Pharmacology and Toxicology. My research focus on the role of the endocannabinoid system in reward processing. I use a variety of novel pharmacological reagents that block or up-regulates endocannabinoid signaling in a rat model of incentive cue responding. Martin graduated in Spring, 2020 and will be working in the lab for a while as a research technician! |
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Heather Bool ~ M.S. student (Neuroscience)
I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Psychology from D’Youville College in May, 2018, and am currently working towards my Masters in Neuroscience, with a heavy focus on pharmacology. I have a background in operant behavior, specifically in rodents. I am interested in how the neurophysiological adaptations underlying addiction alter learning and memory, and how that translates into operant behavior. I am also interested in behavioral addictions, specifically sexual addiction, and how the core neurophysiology compares to drugs of abuse. |
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Li Li ~ M.S. student (Neuroscience)
I received my B.S. in Biotechnology at China Pharmaceutical University in 2018. I am currently pursuing a masters in neuroscience at The University at Buffalo. I completed my bachelor’s graduate research on molecular mechanisms of cannabinoids transport in placenta with Dr. Qingcheng Mao at University of Washington. Now I am interested in studying the neuron circuits involved in use of abusive drugs, specifically, animal behaviors related to changes in these neuron circuits. |
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Eric Kishel ~ M.S. student (Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics)
I graduated with a Bachelor's in Biological Sciences and Psychology from the University at Buffalo, and am currently working towards my Master's in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics. My research focuses on the design, production, and implementation of viral vector systems for various applications in neuroscience and genetics. |
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Thomas Bassett, undergraduate researcher
Thomas is a rising junior pursuing a double major in Bioinformatics and Computer Science at UB. He recently joined the lab and is currently learning our techniques and approaches. In the lab, Thomas is exploring the use of lightweight, head-mounted microscopes in freely moving rats for applications in calcium imaging. When Thomas isn't in the lab, he enjoys traveling and camping. |
Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Associate
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Ken Wakabayashi - I received my Ph.D in neuroscience at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2010, where my doctoral dissertation with Dr. Terry Robinson examined how the rate of cocaine infusion during self-administration potentiated symptoms of addiction. My first post-doc was at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, where I worked with Dr. Eugene Kiyatkin elucidating how drug and natural rewards induced rapid neurochemical changes in reward circuits in the brain, and how both the rapid peripheral effects and slower central effects of rewards correlated with reward-seeking behavior. I am currently a post-doctoral trainee on the Research Institute on Addictions Research Training on Alcohol Etiology and Treatment training grant, with Dr. Caroline Bass as my primary mentor. My current research interests are understanding how nutrient-sensing circuits in the brain interact with the reward and central stress systems to regulate alcohol and drug intake, ultimately contributing to the symptoms of alcohol and substance use disorder.
Ken is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Check out all the cool things he's working on as he sets up his new lab! |
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Malte Feja - I am a neurobiologist and received my Ph.D. at the University of Bremen, Germany, in 2014. I worked as a Postdoctoral Associate at the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, thereafter, and joined Dr. Bass’s lab as a Postdoctoral Associate in 2017. My previous work addressed dysfunctions in frontostriatal circuits underlying impulse-control disorders, and G protein-coupled (5-HT2A and mGlu 2/3) and ionotropic receptors (GABAA) as drug targets in impulsivity-related behaviors. My current research activities are focused on the neurobiology of motivation and addiction. More precisely, I try to elucidate the circuitry, particularly mesolimbic GABA projections, underlying reward- and drug-seeking, and how endocannabinoids influence these behaviors.
Malte is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany. He is currently exploring GABAergic drugs in the treatment of epilepsy. |
Graduate Students
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Andrea Shields - graduated with a M.S. in Neuroscience in 2018. Her thesis while at the University at Buffalo involved looking at the effects of VTA GABA activation on operant ethanol self-administration, as well as the effects on habit formation and interval timing for a natural reward. Aside from her thesis, she also worked on a project utilizing a method called translating ribosome affinity purification, or TRAP, where cell specific ribosomes could be fluorescently tagged and immuno-purified to examine cell specific gene expression.
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Michael Bruno - graduated with a M.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2016, and is currently working as a pharmacy technician.
Brian Loughlin - graduated with a M.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2015, and is currently a MD student at St. George's University
Undergraduate Researchers
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Ajay Baindur, undergraduate researcher
Ajay graduated from UB with a degree in Biomedical Sciences in 2018. While in the lab he explored the role of endocannabinoids and GLP-1 agonists in reward processing, using a variety of operant and pharmacological approaches. Ajay is now in his first year of Med School at UB. He occasionally stops by to say hi and raid our snacks! |
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James Lee - graduated with a B.S. in 2017, currently in MD Program, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
James helped build this website including taking several fantastic pictures of our new home downtown. Check out his photography skills in our photo section and his Instagram. James is in his second year of Med School at UB. |
Yun Beom (Daniel) Lee - graduated with a B.S. in 2015
Karie Chen - graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2017, currently in M.S. program at St. John’s University
Molly Minkiewicz - currently in PhD program, Wake Forest School of Medicine
