Past and Current Trainees

Past Trainees 

Applegate
Devon Applegate

Mentor: David Werner

Period of Appointment: 2021 - 2022

Research: Sex Differences in Ethanol Pharmacokinetics during Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure and Developmental of an Escalating Exposure Model in Female Rats 

Published Papers:

  1. Towner TT, Applegate DT, Varlinskaya EI and Werner DF, 2022, Impact of Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure on Social Investigation, Social Preference, and Neuronal Activation in cFos-LacZ Male and Female Rats. Front. Pharmacol., in press.

Where are they now? Devon is currently a graduate student in the Werner Lab. 

Bagley
Jared Bagley, Ph.D.                                          

Mentor: David Jentsch 

Period of Appointment: 2019 - 2022

Research: Genetic influences on alcohol and cocaine addiction-liability

Published Papers:

  1. Saul MC, Bagley JR, Bailey LS, Datta U, Dickson PE, Dodd R, Gagnon LH, Hugett SB, Kimble VM, Leonardo M, Kim S-M, Olson A, Roy R, Schoenrock SA, Wilcox T, Jentsch JD, Logan RW, McClung CA, Palmer RHC, Philip VM, Reinholdt LG, Sukoff Rizzo SJ, Tarantino LM, Chesler EJ, 2020, Consideration of genetic and sex effects in mice enhances consilience with human addiction studies. bioRxiv 2020.02.14.949784.
  2. Bagley JR, Chesler EJ, Philip VM, Center for the Systems Genetics of Addiction, Jentsch JD, 2021, Heritability of ethanol consumption and pharmacokinetics in a genetically diverse panel of Collaborative Cross mouse strains and their inbred founders. Alcohol Clin. Exp. Res. 45(4):697-708
  3. Bailey LS, Bagley JR, Dodd R, Olson A, Bolduc M, Philip VM, Reinholdt LG, Sukoff Rizzo SJ, Tarantino, LM, Gagnon L, Chesler EJ, Jentsch JD, 2021, Heritable variation in locomotion, reward sensitivity and impulsive behaviors in a genetically diverse inbred mouse panel. Genes Brain Behav. 20(8):e12773.
  4. Bagley JR, Khan AH, Smith DJ, Jentsch JD, 2022, Extreme phenotypic diversity in operant responding for an intravenous cocaine or saline infusion in the Hybrid Mouse Diversity Panel. Addict. Biol. 27(3):e13162.
  5. Bagley JR, Kashinsky WM, Jentsch JD, 2021, A system for continuous and automated measurement of mouse home-cage drinking with automated control of liquid access. bioRxiv 2021.02.10.430693
  6. Bagley JR, Bailey, LS, Gagnon LH, HE H, Phillip VM, Reinholdt, LG, Tarantino, LM, Chesler EJ, Jentsch JD, 2022, Reversal learning phenotypes are linked with novel genetic loci in diversity outbred mice. bioRxiv 2022.01.29.478259.
Where are they Now? Jared is currently a post doctoral researcher in the Jentsch Lab.

Bailey
Lauren Bailey                                        

Mentor: David Jentsch 

Period of Appointment: 2017 - 2019

Research: Genetic influences on reward sensitivity, impulsivity and addiction-liability 

Published Papers:      

  1. Schoenrock SA, Kumar P, Gómez-A A, Dickson PE, Kim SM, Bailey LS, Neira S, Riker KD, Farrington J, Gaines CH, Khan S, Wilcox TD, Roy TA, Leonardo MR, Olson AA, Gagnon LH, Philip VM, Valdar W, de Villena FP, Jentsch JD, Logan RW, McClung CA, Robinson DL, Chesler EJ, Tarantino LM., 2020, Characterization of genetically complex Collaborative Cross mouse strains that model divergent locomotor activating and reinforcing properties of cocaine. Psychopharmacol. (Berl). 237(4):979-996.
  2. Saul MC, Bagley JR, Bailey LS, Datta U, Dickson PE, Dodd R, Gagnon LH, Hugett SB, Kimble VM, Leonardo M, Kim S-M, OlsonA, Roy R, Schoenrock SA, Wilcox T, Jentsch JD, Logan RW, McClung CA, Palmer RHC, Philip VM, Reinholdt LG, Sukoff Rizzo SJ, Tarantino LM, Chesler EJ. Consideration of genetic and sex effects in mice enhances consilience with human addiction studies. bioRxiv 2020.02.14.949784.
  3. Bailey LS, Bagley JR, Dodd R, Olson A, Bolduc M, Philip VM, Reinholdt LG, Sukoff Rizzo SJ, Tarantino, LM, Gagnon L, Chesler EJ, Jentsch JD, 2021, Heritable variation in locomotion, reward sensitivity and impulsive behaviors in a genetically diverse inbred mouse panel. Genes Brain Behav. 20(8):e12773.
  4. Leon Z, Shah K, Bailey LS, Karkhanis AN and Sirohi S, 2021, Patterned Feeding of a Hyper-Palatable Food (Oreo Cookies) Reduces Alcohol Drinking in Rats. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 15:725856.

Where are they now? Lauren is currently a graduate student in the Jentsch Lab. 

Barney
Thaddeus Barney, Ph.D.                                        

Mentor: Terrence Deak 

Period of Appointment: 2018 - 2020

Research: Mechanisms underlying distinct ethanol-induced neuroimmune changes during adolescence. 

Published Papers:

  1. Barney TM, Vore AS, Deak T, 2022, Acute ethanol challenge differentially regulates expression of Growth Factors and miRNA expression profile of whole tissue of the dorsal hippocampus. Front. Neurosci.-Neuropharmacol., in press.
  2. Vore AS, Barney TM, Gano A, Varlinskaya EI and Deak T, 2021, Adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) produces sex specific alterations in adult neuroimmune gene expression and ethanol sensitivity that are independent of ethanol metabolism. Neuropharmacol. 195:108635.
  3. Vore AS, Barney TM, Deak MM, Varlinskaya EI and Deak T, 2022, Adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure produces Sex-Specific changes in BBB Permeability: A potential role for VEGFA. Brain Behav. Immun. 102:209-223.
  4. Barney TM, Vore AS, Trapp SL, Finkenberg CL, Pugliesi DR, Schmalzle MM, Evans SH, Varlinskaya EI and Deak T, 2022, Circulating corticosterone levels mediate the relationship between acute ethanol intoxication and markers of NF-κB activation in male rats. Neuropharmacol. 210:109044.
  5. Gano A, Pautassi RM, Doremus-Fitzwater TL, Barney TM, Vore AS, Deak T, 2019, Conditioning the neuroimmune response to ethanol using taste and environmental cues in adolescent and adult rats. Exp. Biol. Med. (Maywood) 244(5):362-371. 
  6. Marsland P, Parrella A, Vore AS, Barney TM, Varlinskaya EI, Deak T, 2021, Male, but not female, Sprague Dawley rats display enhanced fear learning following acute ethanol withdrawal (hangover). Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 208:173229.
  7. Barney TM, Vore AS, Gano A, Mondello JE, Deak T, 2019, The influence of central interleukin-6 on behavioral changes associated with acute alcohol intoxication in adult male rats. Alcohol 79:37-45.

Where are they now? Thaddeus is a post-doctoral fellow at the Weill Cornell Medical Center. 

Blackwell
Ashley Blackwell, Ph.D.  

Mentors: Terrence Deak and Lisa Savage 

Period of Appointment: 2020 - 2021

Research: Mechanisms underlying distinct ethanol-induced neuroimmune changes during adolescence. 

Published Papers: No current publications from this grant. 

Where are they now? Ashley is a Research Associate at Eastern Virginia Medical School

Dannenhoffer
Carol Dannenhoffer, Ph.D.

Mentors: Linda Spear 

Period of Appointment: 2017 - 2018

Research: The role for glutamate and GABA systems in the persistence of adolescent- typical behavior in adults following adolescent- intermittent ethanol exposure

Published Papers:      

  1. Kim EU, Varlinskaya EI, Dannenhoffer CA, Spear LP, 2019, Adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure: Effects on pubertal development, novelty seeking, and social interaction in adulthood. Alcohol 75:19-29.
  2. Dannenhoffer CA, Varlinskaya EI, Spear LP, 2018, Effects of AMPA receptor antagonist, NBQX, and extrasynaptic GABAA agonist, THIP, on social behavior of adolescent and adult rats. Physiol. Behav. 2018 194:212-217.
  3. Dannenhoffer CA, Spear LP, 2019, Excitatory/inhibitory balance across ontogeny contributes to age-specific behavioral outcomes of ethanol-like challenge in conditioned taste aversion. Dev. Psychobiol. 61(8):1157-1167.
  4. Dannenhoffer CA, Kim EU, Saalfield J, Werner DF, Varlinskaya EI, Spear LP, 2018, Oxytocin and vasopressin modulation of social anxiety following adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure. Psychopharmacol. 235(10):3065-3077. 

Where are they now? Carol is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

Feltus
Sage Feltus 

Mentors: Nadine Mastroleo 

Period of Appointment: 2021 - 2022

Research: Examining the relationship between early life experiences and substance use among emerging adult college students

Published Papers:
  1. Wilson S, Feltus SR, Brenman AM, Cary KB, DiBello AM and Mastroleo NR, 2022, Alcohol use and associated behaviors between pre- and post- COVID mandated college student cohorts. J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, in press.

Where are they now? Sage is a graduate student in the Mastroleo Lab. 

Galaj
Ewa Galaj, Ph.D. 

Mentors: YaoYing Ma and Lisa Savage 

Period of Appointment: 2017 - 2018

Research: Behavioral deficits and pathology within the ventral striatum associated with adolescent ethanol binge exposure.

Published Papers:

  1. Galaj E, Guo C, Huang D, Ranaldi R, Ma YY, 2020, Contrasting effects of adolescent and early-adult ethanol exposure on prelimbic cortical pyramidal neurons. Drug Alcohol Depend. ;216:108309.
  2. Luo YX, Galaj E, Ma YY, 2021, Differential alterations of insular cortex excitability after adolescent or adult chronic intermittent ethanol administration in male rats. J Neurosci. Res. 99(2):649-661.
  3. Shan L, Galaj E, Ma YY, 2019, Nucleus accumbens shell small conductance potassium channels underlie adolescent ethanol exposure-induced anxiety. Neuropsychopharmacol. 44(11):1886-1895.
  4. Galaj E, Kipp BT, Floresco SB, Savage LM, 2019, Persistent alterations of accumbal cholinergic interneurons and cognitive dysfunction after adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure. Neurosci. 2019 404:153-164. 
  5. Kipp BT, Nunes PT, Galaj E, Hitchcock B, Nasra T, Poynor KR, Heide SK, Reitz NL, Savage LM, 2021, Adolescent ethanol exposure alters cholinergic function and apical dendritic branch within the orbital frontal cortex. Neurosci. 473:52-65. 

Where are they now? Ewa is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Colgate University 

J. Hall
Joseph Hall 

Mentors: Lisa Savage 

Period of Appointment: 2018 - 2019

Research: Chemogenetic modulation of cholinergic neurons in rats exposed to adolescent binge ethanol exposure

Published Papers: 

  1. Hall JM, Gomez-Pinilla F, Savage LM, 2018, Nerve Growth Factor Is Responsible for Exercise-Induced Recovery of Septohippocampal Cholinergic Structure and Function. Front. Neurosci. 12:773.

Where are they now? Joseph is a Health Program Specialist, Division of Neuroscience, NIH

Kinser
Alyssa Kinser 

Mentors: David Jentsch  

Period of Appointment: 2019 - 2021

Research: Behavioral economic evaluation of motivation to consume cocaine across a panel of inbred mouse strains

Published Papers:

  1. Moore A, Linden J and Jentsch JD, 2021, Gene Knockout Negatively Impacts Aspects of Reversal Learning Performance. eNeuro, 8(5):ENEURO.0251-21.2021.

Where are they now? Alyssa is a graduate student in the Jentsch Lab. 

B. Kipp
Brian Kipp

Mentors: Lisa Savage

Period of Appointment: 2019 - 2021

Research: Characterization of alcohol-induced cholinergic dysfunction across the septo-temporal axis of the hippocampus. 

Published Papers:      

  1. Kipp BT, Nunes PT, Galaj E, Hitchcock B, Nasra T, Poynor KR, Heide SK, Reitz NL, Savage LM, 2021, Adolescent Ethanol Exposure Alters Cholinergic Function and Apical Dendritic Branching Within the Orbital Frontal Cortex. Neurosci. 473:52-65
  2. Nunes PT, Kipp BT, Reitz NL, Savage LM, 2019, Aging with alcohol-related brain damage: Critical brain circuits associated with cognitive dysfunction. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 148:101-168.
  3. Galaj E, Kipp BT, Floresco SB, Savage LM, 2019, Persistent Alterations of Accumbal Cholinergic Interneurons and Cognitive Dysfunction after Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure. Neurosci. 404:153-164.
  4. Kipp BT, Nunes PT, Savage LM, 2021, Sex differences in cholinergic circuits and behavioral disruptions following chronic ethanol exposure with and without thiamine deficiency. Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 45:1013-1027.

Where are they now? Brian is a graduate student in the Savage Lab. 

Reitz
Nicole Retiz 

Mentors: Lisa Savage

Period of Appointment: 2020 - 2022

Research: The progression of age and alcohol related neuropathology across the lifespan.

Published Papers: 

  1. Reitz NL, Nunes PT, Savage LM, 2021, Adolescent Binge-Type Ethanol Exposure in Rats Mirrors Age-Related Cognitive Decline by Suppressing Cholinergic Tone and Hippocampal Neurogenesis. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 15:772857
  2. Kipp BT, Nunes PT, Galaj E, Hitchcock B, Nasra T, Poynor KR, Heide SK, Reitz NL, Savage LM, 2021, Adolescent Ethanol Exposure Alters Cholinergic Function and Apical Dendritic Branching Within the Orbital Frontal Cortex. Neurosci. 473:52-65
  3. Nunes PT, Kipp BT, Reitz NL, Savage LM, 2019, Aging with alcohol-related brain damage: Critical brain circuits associated with cognitive dysfunction. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 148:101-168.

Where are they now? Nicole is a graduate student in the Savage Lab 

Rouzer
Siara Rouzer, Ph.D. 

Mentors: Marvin Diaz 

Period of Appointment: 2017 - 2019

Research:  Impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on the corticotropin releasing factor system. 

Published Papers: 

  1. Rouzer SK, Cole JM, Johnson JM, Varlinskaya EI, Diaz MR, 2017, Moderate maternal alcohol exposure on gestational day 12 impacts anxiety-like behavior in offspring. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 29;11:183
  2. Diaz MR, Przybysz KR, Rouzer SK, 2018, Age as a factor in stress and alcohol interactions: A critical role for the kappa opioid system. Alcohol 72:9-18. 
  3. Rouzer SK, Diaz MR, 2021, Factors of sex and age dictate the regulation of GABAergic activity by corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 in the medial sub-nucleus of the central amygdala. Neuropharmacol. 189:108530.
  4. Rouzer SK, Diaz MR, 2022, Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure modifies sex-specific CRFR1 activity in the central amygdala and anxiety-like behavior in adolescent offspring. Neuropsychopharmacol. 10.1038/s41386-022-01327-z.

Where are they now? Siara is a Post doctoral fellow at the Texas A & M School of Medicine 

Schatz
Kelcie Schatz, Ph.D. 

Mentor: Marvin Diaz 

Period of Appointment: 2022 - 2023

Research: Role of the neuropeptide vasopressin in the behavioral development of male and female adolescent rats.

Published Papers: No current publications from this grant. 

Where are they now? Kelcie is a post doctoral fellow in the Diaz Lab. 

Spodnick
Mary Spodnick 

Mentor: Marvin Diaz 

Period of Appointment: 2020 - 2022

Research: Prenatal alcohol effects on BLA synaptic plasticity and kappa opioid receptor system

Published Papers:

  1. Spodnick MB, Amirault RT, Towner TT, Varlinskaya EI, Spear LP, Karkhanis AN, 2020, Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure Effects on Kappa Opioid Receptor Mediated Dopamine Transmission: Sex and Age of Exposure Matter. Brain Sci. 10(8):472.
  2. Pirino BE, Spodnick MB, Gargiulo AT, Curtis GR, Barson JR, Karkhanis AN, 2020, Kappa-opioid receptor-dependent changes in dopamine and anxiety-like or approach-avoidance behavior occur differentially across the nucleus accumbens shell rostro-caudal axis. Neuropharmacol. 181:108341. 
  3. Estave PM, Spodnick MB and Karkhanis AN, 2022, KOR Control over Addiction Processing: An Exploration of the Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway. Handb. Exp. Pharmacol. 271:351-377

Where are they now? Mary is a graduate student in the Diaz Lab. 

Towner
Trevor Towner 

Mentors: Linda Spear and David Werner 

Period of Appointment: 2018 - 2020

Research: The role for glutamate and GABA systems in the persistence of adolescent- typical behavior in adults following adolescent- intermittent ethanol exposure

Published Papers:

  1. Towner TT, Fager M, Spear LP, 2020, Adolescent but not adult Sprague-Dawley rats display goal-directed responding after reward devaluation. Dev. Psychobiol. 62(3):368-379.
  2. Towner TT, Varlinskaya EI, 2020, Adolescent Ethanol Exposure: Anxiety-Like Behavioral Alterations, Ethanol Intake, and Sensitivity. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 14:45. 
  3. Spodnick MB, Amirault RT, Towner TT, Varlinskaya EI, Spear LP, Karkhanis AN, 2020, Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure Effects on Kappa Opioid Receptor Mediated Dopamine Transmission: Sex and Age of Exposure Matter. Brain Sci. 10(8):472. 
  4. Varlinskaya EI, Hosová D, Towner T, Werner DF, Spear LP. 2020, Effects of chronic intermittent ethanol exposure during early and late adolescence on anxiety-like behaviors and behavioral flexibility in adulthood. Behav. Brain Res. 378:112292. 
  5. Towner TT, Papastrat KM, Spear LP, Varlinskaya EI, Werner DF, 2022, Impact of adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure in male and female rats on social drinking and neuropeptide gene expression. Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res., in press.
  6. Towner TT, Applegate DT, Varlinskaya EI, Werner DF, 2022, Impact of Adolescent Intermittent Ethanol Exposure on Social Investigation, Social Preference, and Neuronal Activation in cFos-LacZ Male and Female Rats. Front. Pharmacol. 13:841657.
  7. Towner TT, Spear LP, 2021, Rats exposed to intermittent ethanol during late adolescence exhibit enhanced habitual behavior following reward devaluation. Alcohol 91:11-20. 

Where are they now? Trevor is a graduate student in the Werner Lab. 

A. Vore
Andrew Vore, Ph.D. 

Mentor: Terrence Deak  

Period of Appointment: Predoctoral 2017 - 2018; Postdoctoral 2021 - 2023

Research: The role for glutamate and GABA systems in the persistence of adolescent- typical behavior in adults following adolescent- intermittent ethanol exposure
Published Papers:
Predoctoral Papers
  1. Vore AS, Doremus-Fitzwater T, Gano A and Deak T, 2017, Adolescent Ethanol Exposure Leads to Stimulus-Specific Changes in Cytokine Reactivity and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Sensitivity in Adulthood. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 11:78.
  2. Gano A, Vore AS, Sammakia MN, Deak T, 2019, Assessment of Extracellular Cytokines in the Hippocampus of the Awake Behaving Rat Using Large-Molecule Microdialysis Combined with Multiplex Arrays After Acute and Chronic Ethanol Exposure. Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. 43(4):640-654. 
  3. Perkins AE, Piazza MK, Vore AS, Deak MM, Varlinskaya EI, Deak T, 2021, Assessment of neuroinflammation in the aging hippocampus using large-molecule microdialysis: Sex differences and role of purinergic receptors. Brain Behav. Immun. 91:546-555. 
  4. Gano A, Pautassi RM, Doremus-Fitzwater TL, Barney TM, Vore AS, Deak T, 2019, Conditioning the neuroimmune response to ethanol using taste and environmental cues in adolescent and adult rats. Exp. Biol. Med. (Maywood) 244(5):362-371. 
  5. Doremus-Fitzwater TL, Paniccia JE, Gano A, Vore AS, Deak T, 2018, Differential effects of acute versus chronic stress on ethanol sensitivity: Evidence for interactions on both behavioral and neuroimmune outcomes. Brain Behav. Immun. 70:141-156.
  6. Perkins AE, Vore AS, Lovelock D, Varlinskaya E, Deak T, 2018, Late aging alters behavioral sensitivity to ethanol in a sex-specific manner in Fischer 344 rats. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 175:1-9. 
  7. Doremus-Fitzwater TL, Youngentob SL, Youngentob L, Gano A, Vore AS, Deak T, 2020, Lingering Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Basal and Ethanol-Evoked Expression of Inflammatory- Related Genes in the CNS of Adolescent and Adult Rats. Front. Behav. Neurosci.14:82. 
  8. Marsland P, Parrella A, Orlofsky M, Lovelock DF, Vore AS, Varlinskaya EI and Deak T, 2021, Neuroendocrine and neuroimmune responses in male and female rats: evidence for functional immaturity of the neuroimmune system during early adolescence. Eur. J. Neurosci., 10.1111/ejn.15118.
  9. Barney TM, Vore AS, Gano A, Mondello JE, Deak T, 2019,The influence of central interleukin-6 on behavioral changes associated with acute alcohol intoxication in adult male rats. Alcohol 79:37-45. 
Postdoctoral Papers
  1. Vore AS, Barney TM, Gano A, Varlinskaya EI, and Deak T. Adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) produces sex specific alterations in adult neuroimmune gene expression and ethanol sensitivity that are independent of ethanol metabolism. Neuropharmacol. 2021 Sept 1; 95:108635. 
  2. Marsland P, Parrella A, Vore AS, Barney TM, Varlinskaya EI and Deak T. Male, but not female, Sprague Dawley rats display enhanced fear learning following acute ethanol withdrawal (hangover). Pharmacol Biochem Behavior. 2021, Sept; 208:173-229. 
  3. Vore AS, Barney TM, Deak MM, Varlinskaya EI and Deak T. Adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure produces sex-specific  changes in BBB permeability: A potential role for VEGFA. Brain Behav. Immun. 2022, May; 102:209-223. 
  4. Barney .M, Vore AS, Trapp SL, Finkenberg CL, Pugliesi DR, Schmalzle MM, Evans SH, Varlinskaya EI, and Deak T.  Circulating corticosterone levels mediate the relationship between acute ethanol intoxication and markers of NF-κB activation in male rats. Neuropharmacol. 2022 Jun 1;210:109044
  5. Vore AS and Deak T. Alcohol, inflammation, and blood-brain barrier function in health and disease across development. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 2022; 161:209-249. 
Where are they now? Andrew is a post doctoral fellow in the Deak Lab.