A Molecular Approach to Finding New Therapeutics for Treating Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease that affects a large population of people across the US.  G protein-gated potassium ion channels (GIRK) are implicated in AUD and may serve a protective role for the effects of ethanol.  In today’s seminar, I will describe the process of how my lab identified a small molecule modulator of GIRK channels that shows therapeutic potential in animal models of alcohol consumption.  

Paul Slesinger PhD is the Lillian and Henry M. Stratton Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Center for Neurotechnology and Behavior. He is also the Senior Associate Dean for Student and Postdoctoral Affairs at Mount Sinai. His long-term objective is to discover new drugs for treating addictions, such as alcohol use disorder. He takes a broad approach of combining structure biological, biochemical, electrophysiological and behavioral tools for drug development. He obtained his BA in Biology at Reed in 1984 and his PhD in Neuroscience at UCSF in 1991 and is now a Professor at Mount Sinai.

11:50 am- Snacks & Socializing
noon- Talk Begin