Ryan D. Farero

This study investigates the role of CRF-R1 in the Nucleus Accumbens in cocaine consumption and finds that inhibiting or deleting CRF-R1 does not reduce cocaine escalation.

This study shows that KOR on VTA neurons, not NAcC neurons, prevents cocaine escalation by blocking the transition to SUD-like behavior.

The paper shows that cocaine seeking and taking are oppositely regulated by dopamine in rats, with cue-evoked dopamine changes linked to relapse and escalated consumption.

This study shows finasteride reduces opioid self-administration in zebrafish and rats without affecting locomotion or feeding, and suggests steroidogenic pathways as potential targets for OUD treatment.