Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine
Department of Molecular Medicine
California Campus
Laboratory Website
rmartinf@scripps.edu
(858) 784-7154
Department of Neuroscience
Faculty, Graduate Program
A central problem in treating drug addiction is the prevalence of relapse to drug use even after protracted intervals of forced or self-imposed abstinence. My laboratory is involved in programs that seek to identify new pharmacological targets for relapse prevention, a challenging factor in the treatment of post-dependent individuals. These projects investigate the neurobiological basis of chronic vulnerability to relapse, with an emphasis on identifying neural substrates that are responsible for the distinctly compulsive nature of drug (i.e., cocaine, alcohol, opioids, nicotine) seeking compared with behavior that is motivated by natural rewards that are essential for survival, well-being, and "healthy" hedonic pursuits. We use animal models of relapse and systematically compare drug vs. nondrug (usually a highly palatable food reward) in animals with and without a history of drug dependence. These models include cue-, stress-, and prime-induced drug-seeking behavior that are known factors that can induce intense craving and trigger relapse in abstinent individuals. Using a combination of original molecular techniques (i.e., AAV, DREADDs) and gold-standard animal models, this work has been a seminal contribution to the field in that the hypocretin (orexin) system is strongly engaged in drug-seeking behavior. In addition, this work made the key link showing that the hypocretin transmission in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus region not originally thought to be part of “drug addiction circuitry,” is implicated in modulating drug-directed behavior.
B.S., Cellular Biology and Physiology, Université Montpellier II, France, 1989
M.S., Physiology and Pharmacology, Université Montpellier II, France, 1990
Diploma, Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies, Reproduction & Development, Université Montpellier I, France, 1991
Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Université Montpellier II, France, 1996
Positions and Scientific Appointments
2019-present Associate Professor, Dept. of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
2019 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
2017-2019 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
2017-present Member, Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Research, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
2012-2017 Assistant Professor, Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Dept., The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
2012 Assistant Professor, Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Dept., The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
2004-2012 Staff Scientist, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
2002-2004 Senior Research Associate, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
1997-2002 Research Associate, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA.
1997 Postdoctoral Fellow, Institut de Recherche Jouveinal, Fresnes, France
1992-1995 Initiation of Higher Education Center, Teaching Diploma, University of Montpellier, France
Professional Memberships
2021-present International Narcotics Research Conference, Member
2020-present European Behavioural Pharmacology Society, Member
2016-present International Drug Abuse Research Society, Full Member
2009-present College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Member
2009-present American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Member
2010-2013 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, The Scripps Research Institute, Regular Scientific Member
2006-2010 Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, The Scripps Research Institute, Alternate Scientific Member
2005-present Research Society on Alcoholism, Member
1998-present International Brain Research Organization, Member
1998-present Society for Neuroscience, Member
1995-present Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, Member
1995-present French Society for Neurosciences, Member
Honors
2010 Travel Award, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, to attend “Alcoholism and Stress: A Framework for Future Treatment Strategies” meeting in Volterra, Italy (May 2011)
1997 Singer Polignac Foundation Fellowship, France
1997 Simone and Cino Del Duca Foundation Fellowship, France
1997 Institut de Recherche Jouveinal Fellowship, France
1995-1996 ATER (Temporary Research and Teaching Assistant) Fellowship, Ministry of Education and Research, France
1992-1995 Teaching Fellowship, Ministry of Education and Research, France
1992-1995 Research Fellowship, Ministry of Education and Research, France
Advisory Activities
Study Sections
NIH/NIDA 2020/10 PMDA (05/27/2020-05/28/2020); 2020/01 ZRG1 BBBP-X (03) M (11/01/2019); 2018/10 PMDA (05/30/2018-05/31/2018); 2018/01 PMDA (09/28/2017-09/29/2017); 2017/10 PMDA (05/31/2017-06/01/2017)
Veteran Affairs 2020/01 ZRD1 NURA-J (01) 1 (12/06/2019)
TSRI Scripps Translational Institute (SRTI) UL1 TR002550-03 Pilot Awards (04/17/2020)
The Tyrolean Science Fund Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung TWF-2020-1-53, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria (09/27/2020)
Complete List of Published Work in MyBibliography
The Scripps Research Institute's Alcohol Research Center of Excellence (TSRI-ARC) - P60