I was born in Raleigh, but spent much of my youth near New York City. I graduated from Syracuse University and received my doctorate from the University of Michigan. After several years at the National Institutes of Health where I worked with Nobel Laureate, Julius Axelrod, I moved to the University of Florida. During the past 14 years at the University of Florida, I studied the effects of alcohol on the brain, trained many graduate and medical students, formed a Center for Alcohol Research at UF, and matured into a senior scientist. My research has focused on how nerve cells communicate and how alcohol alters these signals.
Nerve cell signaling ultimately drives behaviors such as alcohol craving and dependence.
My laboratories' studies indicated that alcohol causes specific changes in neuronal membrane and ion channel signals that alter the way nerve cells communicate. These changes in neuronal signaling contribute to the sedation, changes in personality, cognitive disruption and black-outs as well as the craving caused by alcohol. Specific parts of the brain appear to be involved in each of these actions of alcohol. At UNC, I will be able to interact with an outstanding group of scientists to further our goals of understanding and treating alcoholism. I am excited about the future at the Skipper Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies.