Steven Graves, PhD

Research in the Graves lab is focused on investigating mechanisms of neurodegeneration with an emphasis on examining the effects of drugs of abuse, such as methamphetamine or alcohol, on monoaminergic neurons. Neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine or alcohol may increase the risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and/or Alzheimer’s disease; by identifying and understanding mechanisms by which these drugs of abuse cause degeneration or increase vulnerability of neurons we hope to identify neuroprotective strategies to mitigate the deleterious outcomes. In addition to our neurodegenerative studies, we are investigating the neurobiology of substance use disorders to better understand circuitry and maladaptive plasticity that contributes to drug-seeking behaviors. Projects in my lab use state-of-the-art techniques including patch clamp electrophysiology, two-photon laser scanning microscopy, genetically encoded biosensors, optogenetics, chemogenetics, stereological analyses, and behavioral pharmacology.