Congratulations to Dr. Constanza Silva on the successful completion of her Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Health!

The article entitled, “Adolescent stress reduces adult morphine-induced behavioral sensitization in C57BL/6J mice,” was accepted for publication in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. Authors include Kamens Lab members Carley Miller, Constanza Siliva and Helen Kamens along with other collaborators.

Congratulations to undergraduate Geneva Flarend who was awarded an Erickson Discovery Grant to support summer research. Congratulations Geneva!

The article entitled, “The role of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in alcohol-related behaviors,” was accepted for publication in the journal Brain Research Bulletin. Authors include Carley Miller and Helen Kamens.

Congratulations to undergraduates Anna Wickenheisser and Aidan Peat who were awarded summer research funding from the Penn State Student Engagement Network. Congratulations Anna and Aidan!

Dr. Helen Kamens will be promoted to Associate Professor with tenure beginning July 1, 2020.

The article entitled, “Cigarette smoke-induced alterations in blood: a review of research on DNA methylation and gene expression,” was accepted for publication in the journal Experimental & Clinical Psychopharmacology. Authors include Constanza Silva and Helen Kamens.

Dr. Kamens was the recipient of a National Cancer Institute R21 Grant. The project entitled, “The moderating role of smoking exposure in the relationship between the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene cluster and nicotine dependence.” With this funding, will use human genetics to examine the role of acetylcholine receptors in nicotine dependence. This work will be completed with Drs. Lisa Dierker and Jenn Rose at Wesleyan University.

NASA undergraduate Anna Wickenheisser from the Kamens Lab presented her work on the results of our most recent experiment, entitled, “The effects of adolescent social stress and genetic background on morphine consumption in C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ mice.”