David Overstreet, Ph.D. - Principal Investigator

 

The team has:

• Discovered that Inbred Fawn-Hooded rats voluntarily drank large amounts of alcohol, providing a strong genetic link in an animal model for alcohol preference and ability to drink large amounts of alcohol.

• Confirmed the association between the high voluntary consumption of saccharin as well as alcohol in alcohol-preferring rats, and established a similar relationship between sweet-liking and alcohol intake in humans.

• Found an ancient Chinese herbal medicine reduced alcohol intake in alcohol-preferring rats and alcohol-drinking monkeys.

• Isolated a pure compound from the Chinese herb which also reduced alcohol intake in rats.

More information about Psychogenetics lab...

David Overstreet wins award in Complementary Medicine

Press release on research into alcohol and sweets craving

Article in New Scientist on this lab's research on sweets craving in alcoholics

Article from Endeavors Magazine on this lab's research on kudzu

Article from Raleigh News & Observer on kudzu research