NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS
Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Laboratories for Psychiatric Research
Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders and Psychopharmacology Programs
Mailman Research Center, McLean Hospital
Ross J. Baldessarini, MD (Director); Aygul Balcioglu, PhD; Franca Centorrino, MD; Eugen Davids, MD; John Hennen, PhD; James Kelleher, MD; Nora S. Kula, MS; John L. Neumeyer PhD; Paola Salvatore, MD; Frank I. Tarazi PhD; Mauricio Tohen, MD, DrPH; Leonardo Tondo, MD; Kehong Zhang, MD, PhD
This program pursues laboratory studies in the molecular and behavioral neuropharmacology of dopamine and other receptors in mammalian brain, and collaborative clinical studies of the psychopharmacology of psychotic and manic-depressive disorders. Current laboratory studies focus on the pharmacology and functions of dopamine receptor and transporter proteins. They include design, synthesis, and molecular, neurochemical, behavioral, physiological, and developmental assessment of dopaminergic target sites of interest. Novel molecular tools for laboratory or neuroradiological studies as well as molecules and principles for potential novel antipsychotic/antimanic drug applications are of interest, and collaborative clinical studies of novel and improved treatments for psychotic or manic illnesses are carried out.
Key Words. amino acids, antimanic, antipsychotic, clinical pharmacology, dopamine, limbic system, development, epidemiology, pharmacokinetics, receptors, toxicology, transporters.
Grant Support. Bruce J. Anderson Foundation (Baldessarini); Alan Branfman Foundation (Neumeyer, Zhang & Baldessarini); Neuropharmacology Research Fund (Baldessarini); NARSAD (Tarazi); NARSAD (Zhang); NIDA (Neumeyer & Baldessarini); Stanley Foundation (Kelleher & Baldessarini; Tarazi); Corporate research contracts (Baldessarini, Centorrino & Kelleher; Tarazi; Zhang; US DOE (Tamagnan & Baldessarini).
Project Site. Mailman Research Center (Neuropharmacology Laboratory; Laboratories for Psychiatric Research) and Bipolar & Psychotic Disorders and Psychopharmacology Programs, McLean Hospital (Director, RJ Baldessarini).
Project Director and Contact. RJ Baldessarini, MD, McLean Hospital, Mailman Research Center, Room 316, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02178 (E-mail: <rjb@mclean.org>).
Training Opportunities. There are several pre- and postdoctoral laboratory and clinical trainees in the program, supported by departmental training grants, research grants, individual awards, and private funds.
Representative Publications
Baldessarini RJ, Tarazi FI: Drugs and the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Chapts 19 & 20 in Goodman & Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, tenth edition, Hardman JG, Limbird LE, Gilman AG (eds). McGraw-Hill, New York, 2001, pp 447-520.
Baldessarini RJ, Campbell A, Webb NL, Swindell CS, Flood JG, Shashoua VE, Kula NS, Hemamalini S, Bradley MO: Pharmacology of a potent, long-acting fatty-acid derivative of clozapine. Neuropsychopharmacology 2000; 24: 55-65.
Centorrino F, Price BH, Tuttle M, Bahk W-M, Hennen J, Albert M, Baldessarini RJ: Electroencephalographic abnormalities during treatment with typical and atypical antipsychotics. Am J Psychiatry 2001; in press.
Tarazi FI, Kula NS, Zhang K, Baldessarini RJ: Alkylation of rat dopamine transporters and blockade of dopamine uptake by EEDQ. Neuropharmacology 2000; 39: 2133-38.
Tarazi FI, Zhang K, Baldessarini RJ: Long-term effects of olanzapine, risperidone, and quetiapine on dopamine receptor subtypes: Implications for antipsychotic drug treatment. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2001; 297: 711-17.