Departments & Divisions
Brett C. Ginsburg, Ph.D.
Professor
Psychiatry
My research program focuses on the behavioral neurobiology and pharmacology of alcohol, opioids, and cannabinoids. Currently, my research is focised on the neurobiology involved in the transition of receovery from alcoholism from an effortful, goal-directed behaviour to a habit which is more resistant to relapse. We are exploring cholinergic mechanisms involved in this transistion, and whether nicotinic agonists might be useful as medications to speed the establishment of recovery. On the other hand, chronic ethanol exposure can decrease cognition, and we are examining whether this action could impede the establishment of recovery as a replacement for problematic drinking.
Related diseases: alcoholism, addiction, obesity, chronic pain
Techniques: Local and systemic drug administration, behavioral pharmacology, choice behavior, operant conditioning, Pavlovian conditioning, drug self-administration
-
Professional Background
Education
- 2002 - PhD - Molecular and Systems Pharmacology - Emory University
- 1995 - BS - Chemistry - Southwestern University
- Postdoctoral Fellowship - Division of Drug and Alcohol Addiction - UTHSCSA
Appointments
- 9/2013 - Associate Professor - UTHSCSA, Psychiatry, San Antonio
-
Instruction & Training
- 12/2014 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, UTHSCSA
- 8/2013 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, UTHSCSA
- 2/2013 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, Texas State Univ.
-
Research & Grants
Grants
Federal
Funding Agency NIAAAA Title Rat Ethanol Self Administration respondent instrumental interactions (R01) Status Active Period 4/2002 - 7/2017 Role Co-Investigator Grant Detail This is a competing renewal of a R01 grant. This grant has led to numerous publications, and was renewed based on the productivity and collaboration of Drs. Ginsburg and Lamb. The goal of this grant is to examine the role of serotonin in ethanol self-administration and alcoholism. Funding Agency NIH Title Attentional bias to alcohol cues in rats: development and decline (R21) Status Active Period 6/2015 - 5/2017 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail This R21 proposal investigates whether alcohol related cues can produce attentional bias that could lead to craving or relapse among those in recovery. Funding Agency Department of Defense Title Rescue from Spice intoxication: an investigation in rats of agents to reverse the intoxicating and dissociative effects of synthetic cannabinoids. Status Active Period 1/2015 - 1/2017 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail This is a research project to investigate the mechanisms responsible for reports of dissociative effects of synthetic cannabinoids and to identify potential treatments to rescue those in acute distress from synthetic cannabinoid intoxication. Funding Agency Department of Defense Title The impact of dependence, withdrawal and relapse on oral oxycodone self-administration in the rat. Status Active Period 1/2015 - 1/2017 Role Principal Investigator Grant Detail This is a proposal for a research project to investigate the impact of opioid dependence and withdrawal on oxycodone self-administration and relapse. Funding Agency NIDA Title Training in Drug Abuse Research: Behavior and Neurobiology Status Active Period 7/2011 - 6/2016 Role Contributor Grant Detail This postdoctoral training program builds on a rapidly growing community of drug and alcohol abuse researchers and trainees at UTHSCSA. The well recognized need for addiction scientists with interdisciplinary training is addressed by this program in which trainees conduct research on collaborative projects spanning more than one laboratory and more than one experimental approach. An experienced Program Director along with 17 other preceptors and an expert External Advisory Committee will oversee the progress and further growth of drug and alcohol abuse training at UTHSCSA.
-
Publications
Journal Article
Ginsburg BC. Toward a Comprehensive Model of DELTA(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol Pharmacokinetics Using a Population Pharmacokinetics Approach Clin Pharmacokinet 2015 Jan;54(2):129-131. Pinkston JW, Ginsburg BC, Lamb RJ. Reinforcer magnitude and rate dependency:evaluation of resistance-to-change mechanisms Behavioural Pharmacology 2014 Oct;25(7):629-636. Ginsburg BC, Lamb RJ. Drug effects on multiple and concurrent schedules of ethanol- and food-maintained behavior: context dependent selectivity. [under review] British Journal of Pharmacology 2014 Jul;171(14):3499-3510. Ginsburg BC, Lamb RJ. Relative potency of varenicline or fluvoxamine to reduce responding for ethanol versus food depends on the presence or absence of concurrently earned food [in press] Alcoholism: Experimental and Clinical Research 2014 Mar;38(3):860-870. Ginsburg BC, Lamb RJ. Effects of Varenicline on Ethanol- and Food-Maintained Responding in a Concurrent Access Procedure Alcoholism: Experimental and Clinical Research 2013 Jul;37(7):1228-1233. Ginsburg BC, Lamb RJ. Shifts in discriminative control with increasing periods of recovery in the rat Alcoholism: Experimental and Clinical Research 2013 Mar;37(6):1033-1039. Lamb RJ, Ginsburg BC. Fluvoxamine and desipramine on fixed-ratio responding: effects of reinforcement magnitude Behavioural Pharmacology 2005 Nov;16(7):573-578.