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Eric Zorrilla, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Translational Medicine

Member, Pearson Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research

Eric Zorrilla, PhD

Research Focus

The Zorrilla laboratory seeks to understand the neural substrates of motivated behavior and of the regulatory control of energy balance using interdisciplinary molecular, biochemical, neuroanatomical, pharmacological, physiological, behavioral and statistical techniques. We are particularly interested in genetic, epigenetic and neuroadaptive differences in the neurobiology of reward and stress circuits that subserve the control of food intake as well as of other appetitive (reward-driven) and stress-related behaviors. Our work aims to be therapeutically relevant to the increased incidence of obesity, binge eating disorders, alcoholism and drug addiction, and stress-related psychiatric disorders of anxiety and depression in industrialized societies.

Select Publications

  • Kirson, Dean; Spierling Bagsic, Samantha R.; Murphy, Jiayuan; Chang, Hang; Vlkolinsky, Roman; Pucci, Sarah N.; Prinzi, Julia; Williams, C A.; Fang, Savannah Y.; Roberto, Marisa; Zorrilla, Eric P. Decreased excitability of leptin-sensitive anterior insula pyramidal neurons in a rat model of compulsive food demand. 2022, 208, 108980.

  • Serafine, Katherine M.; O'Dell, Laura E.; Zorrilla, Eric P. Converging vulnerability factors for compulsive food and drug use. 2021, 196, 108556.

  • Spierling, Samantha R.; de Guglielmo, G.; Kirson, D.; Kreisler, A.; Roberto, Marisa; George, Olivier; Zorrilla, Eric P. Insula to ventral striatal projections mediate compulsive eating produced by intermittent access to palatable food. Neuropsychopharmacology 2020, 45, 579-588.

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  • Frihauf, Jennifer B.; Fekete, Éva M; Nagy, Tim R.; Levin, Barry E.; Zorrilla, Eric P. Maternal Western diet increases adiposity even in male offspring of obesity-resistant rat dams: early endocrine risk markers. 2016, 311, R1045-R1059.

  • Logrip, Marian L.; Vendruscolo, Leandro F.; Schlosburg, Jo E.; Koob, George F.; Zorrilla, Eric P. Phosphodiesterase 10A regulates alcohol and saccharin self-administration in rats. 2014, 39, 1722-31.

  • Cottone, P.; Sabino, V.; Roberto, Marisa; Bajo, M.; Pockros, L.; Frihauf, J. B.; Fekete, E. M.; Steardo, L.; Rice, K. C.; Grigoriadis, D. E.; Conti, Bruno; Koob, George F.; Zorrilla, Eric P. CRF system recruitment mediates dark side of compulsive eating. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2009, 106, 20016-20020.

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News, Events & Media
$10 million grant funds Scripps Research Alcohol Research Center through its 50th year
News

$10 million grant funds Scripps Research Alcohol Research Center through its 50th year

The five-year grant supports research into the neurobiology of alcohol use disorder.

Neuroscience
Can pharmacotherapies prevent alcohol use disorder in people with PTSD?
News

Can pharmacotherapies prevent alcohol use disorder in people with PTSD?

A Scripps Research team showed how drugs can reduce alcohol preference in animal models of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Translational Medicine
PTSD and alcohol abuse go hand-in-hand, but males and females exhibit symptoms differently
News

PTSD and alcohol abuse go hand-in-hand, but males and females exhibit symptoms differently

In rodent experiments modeled to mimic real-life circumstances, scientists revealed brain mechanisms that could lead to targeted treatments. 

Translational Medicine
News

‘Western’ Maternal Diet Appears to Raise Obesity Risk in Offspring

Translational Medicine
Groundbreaking Science.
Life-changing Medicine.