Addiction research

The Addiction group is researching the neurochemical basis of the actions of drugs of abuse. These studies include investigating the mechanism by which drugs of abuse induce behavioural changes as well as the basis of drug addiction.

The drugs of interest include alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and opioids such as morphine. In view of the similarities between addiction and other reward inducing activities such as feeding, the group is also interested in appetite control.  The group uses a range of neuropharmacological methods coupled with molecular biological approaches.

The group includes academic staff members Ian Coupar, Dan Malone, Jennifer Short, David Taylor and Paul White, and postgraduate research students. There are collaborative programs investigating the treatment of heroin with Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre and with the Department of Medicinal Chemistry’s Ben Capuano, Ian Crosby and Ted Lloyd.

Current Addiction Research Projects

Potential Honours/Postgraduate Research Projects