Located within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the University of South Florida, the Laboratory of Alcohol and Addictions Neuroscience (LAAN) is dedicated to understanding the neurobehavioral impact of both acute and chronic exposure to drugs of abuse — including alcohol and opioids.

To achieve this goal, the LAAN employs an integrative approach that combines behavioral analysis with immunohistochemical, psychopharmacological, neurochemical, molecular, and genetic methodologies. At the core of every study lies a behavioral level of analysis, which, when integrated with these complementary neuroscience techniques, allows the lab to identify the neural mechanisms that contribute to addictive disorders.

By uncovering the neurobiological substrates underlying alcohol use disorder, addiction, and dependence, as well as trauma-related comorbidities, the LAAN strives to translate this knowledge into the development of effective therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat alcohol and substance use disorder as well as certain psychiatric conditions involving trauma and dysphoria.