What Does Our Lab Study?
The Brown lab primarily focuses on substance abuse comorbidities in schizophrenia. Using the neonatal quinpirole model we established F0 and F1 generations of rodents, yielding interesting epigenetic opportunities. We also take a psychopharmacological approach in an effort to reduce behavioral deficits often associated with schizophrenia.
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The Brown Lab also studies the effects of novel anti-inflammatories and their effects on behavioral and neurobiological endpoints in Alzheimer's Disease. We are utilizing three different genetic models (3xTg, 5xFAD, and P301s) in an attempt to discover novel therapeutic treatments for a devastating disease. Animals are tested on several cognitive and anxiety tests, and neurobiologically we are analyzing changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines.
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Who's Working in the Lab?Our lab is currently made up of two graduate students: Loren Peeters and Anthony Cuozzo. We also have several undergraduate students completing independent studies and helping with animal testing in our lab.
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Check Out our Recent Publications!
To see older, yet still excellent publications click Publications.
Improving sensorimotor gating deficits via mGlu5 modulation in rats neonatally treated with quinpiroleBrown, R. W., Varnum, C. G., Wills, L. J., Peeters, L. D., & Gass, J. T. (2021). Modulation of mglu5 improves sensorimotor gating deficits in rats neonatally treated with Quinpirole through changes in dopamine D2 signaling. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 211, 173292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173292
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Reinstatement of nicotine CPP in a transgenerational model of drug abuse vulnerability in psychosisPeeters LD, Wills LJ, Cuozzo AM, Ivanich KL, Brown RW. Reinstatement of nicotine conditioned place preference in a transgenerational model of drug abuse vulnerability in psychosis: Impact of BDNF on the saliency of drug associations. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2023 May 9.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-023-06379-7 |
The adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist CGS 21680 alleviates PPI deficits and increases in accumbal CREBBrown, R. W., Bhide, P. G., Gill, W. D., & Peeters, L. D. (2020). The adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist CGS 21680 alleviates auditory sensorimotor gating deficits and increases in accumbal CREB in rats neonatally treated with Quinpirole. Psychopharmacology, 237(12), 3519–3527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-020-05631-8
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Recent Graduates from Our Lab
Liza J. Wills (BA ETSU 2015; PhD ETSU 2021). Liza defended her dissertation in 2021 and is currently a postdoctoral scholar in Dr. Justin Gass' lab here at ETSU. She is heading up a project focusing on PTSD and addiction!
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Drew Gill (BS Davidson College 2015; PhD ETSU 2020). Drew defended his dissertation in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is headed to a postdoctoral fellowship with the Food & Drug Administration in Little Rock, AR. Drew worked hard in our laboratory and we wish him the best!
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Laboratory Alumni
PhD Graduates from the Brown Lab
Name |
Year of PhD |
Postdoctoral Fellowship |
Current Position |
Marla K. Perna |
2012 |
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine |
Research Scientist, Cincinnati Children's Med. Res. Fdn. |
Elizabeth D. Freeman |
2015 |
University of Nebraska Psychology |
Assistant Prof., Psychology, Nebraska Wesleyan Univ. |
Daniel J. Peterson |
2016 |
University of Colorado-Boulder |
Senior Scientist, ICD Pharmaceuticals |
W. Drew Gill |
2020 |
Food & Drug Administration (FDA) |
Project Manager, FDA |
Liza J. Wills |
2021 |
ETSU School of Medicine (Dr. Justin Gass Lab) |
Postdoctoral fellow, ETSU School of Medicine |
MS Graduates from the Brown Lab
Name |
Year of MS |
PhD Institution |
Postdoc. Fellowship |
Current Position |
Amanda M. Maple |
2007 |
Arizona St. Univ. (Dr. Ron Hammer's lab) |
Univ. of Arizona (Dr. Amelia Gallitano's lab) |
Biomed Science Liaison, BioXcel Therapeutics |
Zackary A. Cope |
2008 |
Med. Univ. of South Carolina (Dr. Gary Aston-Jones' lab) |
Univ. Cal. San Diego (Dr. Jared Young's lab) |
Sage Therapeutics |
A. Brianna Sheppard |
2008 |
ETSU (Dr. Matt Palmatier's lab) |
Univ. of Pittsburgh (Dr. Michael Gold's lab) |
Associate Dir. of Research, West Virginia Univ. Health Affairs |
BS Graduates from the Brown Lab
Name |
Year of BS |
PhD Institution |
Postdoc. Fellowship |
Current Position |
Justin T. Gass |
2001 |
Univ. of South Carolina |
Medical Univ. of South Carolina |
Associate Prof, ETSU Dept. Biomed Sciences |
Timothy J. Flanigan |
2003 |
Univ. of Memphis |
Univ. of Tennessee, Health Sciences Ctr |
Project Manager, Natl' Center on Toxicol Res |
Ivy A. Click |
2001 |
Ed.D., ETSU |
N/A |
Dir. Med. School Curriculum ETSU |
Katherine J. Smith |
2004 |
Univ. of Kentucky |
Univ. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill |
Professor, Tusculum University |
Matthew Rice |
2007 |
Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham |
Albert Einstein College of Medicine |
Sci Project Manager, Natl Ctr of Transl Sci |
Ben Hughes |
2014 |
Medical Univ. of South Carolina |
Univ. of North Carolina-Chapel Hill |
Postdoctoral fellow, UNC |
Robert Becker |
2014 |
N/A |
N/A |
Manager of Human Anatomy Lab, ETSU |
Charlotte Kaestner |
2017 |
Univ. of Florida |
Current Grad Student |
Current Grad Student |
Caitlynn DePreter |
2017 |
Oregon Health Sciences University |
Current Grad Student |
Current Grad Student |
Briana Clary |
2019 |
West Virginia Univ. |
Current Grad Student |
Current Grad Student |