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UF Health University of Florida
Department of Neuroscience College of Medicine
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Brandon Warren

Brandon Warren, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Department: Cellular and Systems Pharmacology
Business Phone: (352) 273-7010
Business Email: brandon.warren@ufl.edu
CV: View Curriculum Vitae

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About Brandon Warren

Brandon Warren, Ph.D., received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Florida State University. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Baltimore, Maryland. Warren’s lab integrates behavioral, biochemical, and microscopic approaches to probe the role of neuronal ensembles (patterns of neurons activated during behavior) in animal models of drug addiction.

Related Links:
Research in Focus Video
Warren Lab

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught

Research Profile

Drug addiction appears to involve abnormally strong learned associations, typified by intrusive memories that often induce drug craving and relapse. Our research endeavors to decode how these drug memories are stored in the brain. We hypothesize that learned associations are encoded by patterns of sparsely distributed neurons, called neuronal ensembles, which are selected by cues and their reinforcers. Since strong neuronal activity drives expression of the immediate early gene Fos, we use Fos expression to identify neuronal ensembles activated during behavior. The relationship between neuronal activity and Fos expression permits us to use the Fos promoter to drive expression of transgenes in rats. Transgenic rat lines now allow us to characterize and manipulate neuronal ensembles with unmatched specificity. Understanding how these memories are encoded may one day enable us to treat drug addiction by strengthening or weakening specific drug or memories.

For more details and information about joining the lab, please visit our website: http://www.warren-lab.com

Publications

Academic Articles

Grants

  1. Identifying molecular markers of neuronal inhibition after opioids

    Active

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA

  2. Development of SBS-226, a MOR agonist / DOR antagonist, for OUD

    Active

    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding:
    SPARIAN BIOSCIENCES via NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA

  3. Development of sigma receptor/DAT dual-targeting compounds to treat stimulant use disorder

    Active

    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding:
    SPARIAN BIOSCIENCES via NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA

  4. The role of neuronal ensemble Rac1 activity in cocaine seeking behavior

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA

  5. Development of sigma receptor/DAT dual-targeting compounds to treat stimulant use disorder

    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding:
    SPARIAN BIOSCIENCES via NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA

  6. Neuronal ensembles in extinction of cocaine seeking

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    NATL INST OF HLTH NIDA

  7. The Role of Neuronal Ensembles in Food Versus Cocaine Self-administration.

    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding:
    BRAIN & BEHAVIOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION

Education

  1. Ph.D.

    Florida State University

  2. M.S.

    Florida State University

  3. B.Sc.

    Florida State University

Contact Details

Phones:
Business:
(352) 273-7010
Emails:
Business:
brandon.warren@ufl.edu
Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO Box 100487
 GAINESVILLE FL 32610
Business Street:
MSB P1-27
MSB P1-27
 GAINESVILLE FL 326110001