My general interests are in the biochemical mechanisms involved in the action of opiates, related compounds, and other drugs of abuse.
Current research focuses primarily on sigma receptors.
Sigma receptors are unique drug binding sites located both in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues, and which bind various classes of psychoactive compounds. These include some opiate, neuroleptic, psychotomimetic, antidepressant, and anticonvulsant drugs. The mechanisms involved in these processes are under investigation. We are studying signal transduction pathways utilized by sigma receptors, with particular interest in effects on calcium mobilization. High levels of sigma receptor expression in tumor cell lines of various tissue origin has suggested a role in cancer.