Candice Contet, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Translational Medicine
Research Focus
The Contet laboratory investigates the molecular and circuit mechanisms mediating the behavioral effects of alcohol, with a focus on neuroadaptations driving excessive alcohol drinking. A first aspect of our research focuses on known molecular targets of alcohol, such as GIRK and BK channels, two potassium channels that can be activated by alcohol in vitro. Our goal is to assess the in vivo relevance of alcohol's action on these proteins by evaluating their contribution to acute intoxication, tolerance, drinking, and brain adaptations resulting from their chronic activation. A second aspect of our research explores the neurocircuitry mediating the role of the neuropeptide CRF in the transition to alcohol dependence and led us to investigate the influence of neuronal subpopulations of the parasubthalamic nucleus on motivated behaviors. Finally, we are undertaking exploratory projects, which aim to identify novel molecular determinants of excessive alcohol drinking using untargeted proteomics and network analysis. To achieve these goals, we use validated mouse models of differential alcohol intake, in combination with genetically engineered mice and viral vectors.
Our laboratory is part of the TSRI Alcohol Research Center and our projects leverage collaborations with multiple laboratories, within and outside of Scripps, to complement our expertise in mouse behavior and genetic targeting with other relevant methodologies (e.g., electrophysiology, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, chemistry).
Ultimately, our hope is to curb the devastating impact of alcohol use disorders on individuals, their family and the community as a whole, through the identification of vulnerable populations and the development of better treatments. If you share our dedication to this goal, you can help our research by making a donation to the Pearson Center. Your support will make a difference.
Links
Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Research
Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism (INIA)
Research Society on Alcoholism
Select Publications
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Shah, Tanvi; Dunning, Jeffery L.; Contet, Candice At the heart of the interoception network: Influence of the parasubthalamic nucleus on autonomic functions and motivated behaviors.. Neuropharmacology 2022, 204, 108906.
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Zorrilla, Eric P.; Okhuarobo, Agbonlahor; Igbe, Ighodaro; Contet, Candice; Bolton, Jessica L.; Baram, Tallie Z. A novel mouse model for vulnerability to alcohol dependence induced by early-life adversity.. Neurobiology of Stress 2020, 13, 100269.
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Xu, Jun; Ma, Hsiao-yen; Liu, Xiao; Baglieri, Jacopo; Mccubbin, Ryan; Sun, Mengxi; Koyama, Yukinori; Geoffroy, Cedric G.; Saijo, Kaoru; Shang, Linshan; Nishio, Takahiro; Maricic, Igor; Kreifeldt, Max; Kusumanchi, Praveen; Zheng, Binhai; Kumar, Vipin; Zengler, Karsten; Pizzo, Donald P.; Hosseini, Mojgan; Contet, Candice; Glass, Christopher K.; Liangpunsakul, Suthat; Tsukamoto, Hidekazu; Gao, Bin; Karin, Michael; Brenner, David A.; Koob, George F.; Kisseleva, Tatiana; Roberts, Amanda J.; Rosenthal, Sara B. Blockade of IL-17 signaling reverses alcohol-induced liver injury and excessive alcohol drinking in mice.. JCI insight 2020, 5, e131277.
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Agoglia, Abigail E.; Zhu, Manhua; Ying, Rose; Sidhu, Harpreet; Natividad, Luis A.; Wolfe, Sarah A.; Buczynski, Matthew W.; Contet, Candice; Parsons, Loren H.; Roberto, Marisa; Herman, Melissa A. Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor-1 Neurons in the Lateral Amygdala Display Selective Sensitivity to Acute and Chronic Ethanol Exposure.. eNeuro 2020, 7, ENEURO.0420-19.2020.
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