Funded Grants
Current Support:
- Sex Differences and the Influence of Ovarian Hormones on the Mechanisms that Promote Nicotine Withdrawal. Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: NIDA; Type: 1R01DA059359; Total cost: $2,175,200; Period: 02/29/2024–02/28/2028; Goal: To examine the mechanisms that modulate sex differences and the role of ovarian hormones in the behavioral effects of nicotine in rodent models.
- UTEP FIRST: United Toward Equity and Progress: Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation. Role: co-Primary Investigator; Agency: NCI; Type: 5U54CA280922; Total cost: $15,547,552; Period: 06/05/2023–05/31/2028; Goal: This award is part of the NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program. As the Faculty Development Core co-lead, my role is to support the professional development activities of UTEP FIRST cohort of 6 faculty members.
- Summer Mentoring And Research Training: Methods In Neuroscience of Drug-Abuse. (SMART MIND). Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: NIDA; Type: 3R25DA033613; Total cost: $641,635; Period: 05/01/2023–04/30/2028; Goal: To enrich the science education and research training of undergraduates and high school teachers with a focus on the neuroscience of drug addiction.
- Preventative Biomarkers and Potential Pharmacotherapies for Nicotine Use and Diabetes. Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: NIMHD; Type: 1R16GM145551; Total cost: $613,750; Period: 07/06/2022–07/05/2025; Goal: To examine the efficacy of clinically approved medications for diabetes and/or smoking in rodent models of diabetes.
- Build-out of an Imaging and Behavioral Neuroscience Facility for Hispanic Health Disparities. Role: Co-Primary Investigator; Agency: NIH; Type: C06OD032074; Total cost: $5,077,480; Period: 09/15/2021–09/14/2024; Goal: To expand the Interdisciplinary Research Building for research focused on neuroscience and projects focused on Hispanic health disparities. As the Director of the Behavior core, my role is to support the research activities of the behavioral neuroscience researchers.
Previous Support:
- Stress-induced Nicotine Use and Subsequent Risk of Developing Cancer. Role: Supplement Primary Investigator; Agency: NIMHD; Type: U54MD007592-29S3; Total cost: $226,500; Period: 03/21/2022–02/29/2023; Goal: To support work in the UTEP Border Biomedical Research Center that integrates scientists focused on stress-induced nicotine use and subsequent risk of developing cancer.
- Supporting Translation of Education and Research in Neuroscience (STERN). Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: El Paso Community Foundation Type: Stern Family Foundation Award; Total cost: $25,000; Period: 11/24/2021–11/23/2023; Goal: To support a collaborative research project and launch the Stern Family Seminar Series between UTEP and Texas Tech University Health Science Center-El Paso.
- Sex Differences in the Mechanisms that Promote Nicotine Reward and Withdrawal. Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: NIDA; Type: 2R01DA021274; Total cost: $2,175,574; Period: 05/01/2014-04/30/2021; Goal: To examine sex differences in the neurochemical mechanisms that promote the rewarding effects of nicotine and the aversive effects of withdrawal.
- Sex Differences in the Neurochemical Mechanisms By Which Stress Enhances Nicotine Reward and Withdrawal. Role: Mentor; Agency: NIDA; Type: F31DA046126; Total cost: $507,455; Period: 01/01/2019-12/31/2020; Goal: To support a pre-doctoral trainee (Dr. Kevin Uribe) in research involving the neurochemical mechanisms that promote nicotine use in females.
- Vulnerability Issues In Drug Abuse: Career And Research Transdisciplinary Training Program (VIDA:CARTT). Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: NIDA; Type: HHSN271201600057C; Total cost: $908,108; Period: 09/30/2016-09/30/2020; Goal: To provide a tailored 2-year research experience and professional development program for underrepresented post-doctoral fellows conducting basic biomedical substance abuse research.
- Faculty Science and Technology Acquisition and Retention (STARs). Role: Participating Investigator; Agency: University of Texas System; Type: Retention Program; Total cost: $250,000; Period: FY 2016-2018; Goal: This award supports the growth of established research programs in Texas.
- Insulin Mechanisms of Diabetes-Evoked Enhancement of Nicotine Reward. Role: Co-Investigator; Agency: NIDA; Type: R15DA040130; Total cost: $118,261; Period: 09/01/2015-08/30/2018; Goal: To examine the neurochemical mechanisms by which insulin promotes the rewarding effects of nicotine.
- Vulnerability Issues in Drug Abuse (VIDA). Role: Co-Investigator on primary project; Agency: NIDA; Type: R24DA029989; Sub-project cost: $168,087; Period: 03/04/2011–03/03/2016; Goal: This award was funded through the Diversity Institution Drug Abuse Research Program (DIDARP). The goal was to build infrastructure and train minority scientists in multidisciplinary approaches to study of drug abuse on the U.S./Mexico border. Our sub-project examined the mechanisms by which stress systems modulate vulnerability to drug abuse in an age- and/or sex-dependent manner.
- Drugs of Abuse and Remodeling of the Neuronal Cytoskeleton. Role: Co-Investigator; Agency: NIH; Type: Pilot project G12MD007592; Total costs: $25,000; Period: 04/01/2015-03/31/2016; Goal: To examine whether cytoskeletal organization modulates alcohol and nicotine dependence.
- Diabetes Enhances Susceptibility to the Rewarding Effects of Nicotine. Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: American Diabetes Association; Type: Basic Science Award 7-12-BS-135; Total cost: $345,000; Period: 07/01/2012–06/30/2015; Goal: To examine the neurobiological mechanisms that promote tobacco use vulnerability in rodent models of diabetes.
- Neural Mechanisms Mediating Enhanced Tobacco Abuse in Diabetic Rats. Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: NIH; Type: Pilot project 5G12RR008124; Total cost: $25,000; Period: 01/01/2012-06/30/2012; Goal: To examine the neurochemical mechanisms that mediate enhanced rewarding effects of nicotine in rodent models of diabetes.
- Nico-teen: Mechanisms of Nicotine Reward and Withdrawal During Adolescence. Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: NIH; Type: R01DA021274; Total cost: $2,076,387; Period: 08/01/2007-12/31/2013; Goal: To examine the neurochemical mechanisms that mediate age and sex differences to the rewarding and aversive effects of nicotine. This grant was extended for an additional year via the PECASE award.
- Neurobehavioral Correlates of Nicotine Withdrawal in Adult versus Adolescent Rats. Role: Primary Investigator; Agency: NSF; Type: Support of Mentors and Students Program DUE 04-26266; Total cost: $10,000; Period: 05/01/2005-07/31/2005; Goal: To provide support for a student on a summer research project examining the neural mechanisms of developmental sensitivity to nicotine dependence.
- Nicotine Self-Administration in an Animal Model. Role: Co-Investigator; Agency: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program of California; Type: 12RT0099; Total cost: $675,195; Period: 07/01/2003-06/30/2006; Goal: To characterize the acquisition of nicotine self-administration and the transition to dependence under unlimited access conditions in rats.
- Mechanisms of Developmental Sensitivity to Nicotine Withdrawal. Role: Mentor; Agency: NIDA; Type: F31DA021133; Total cost: $78,495; Period: 06/01/2008-05/31/2011; Goal: To support a pre-doctoral trainee (Dr. Luis Natividad) in his research examining the neurochemical mechanisms that promote greater sensitivity to nicotine dependence in adolescent rats.
- University of Texas System: Annual Allocation of PUF Reserves Program. Role: Participating Investigator; Agency: Laboratory Equipment Repair and Rehabilitation (LERR) Program; Type: Equipment Grant; Total costs: $500,000; Period: FY 2011; Goals: To provide equipment that will foster collaborations between faculty at UTEP and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio that are focused on the neural basis of diabetes and drug addiction.
- Modification of Genes and Behavior by Stress: Enhanced Vulnerability to Addiction. Role: Co-Investigator; Agency: NIH; Type: Pilot project G12RR008124; Total costs: $25,000; Period: 10/01/2010-06/30/2011; Goals: To examine the role of stress in the escalation of methamphetamine self-administration in rats.
- Minority Neuroscience Training Program; Role: Graduate Student Fellow; Agency: NIMH; Type: T32MH19185; Period: 07/01/1993-08/02/1996; Goal: To characterize the role of dopamine receptor subtypes in the rewarding effects of cocaine in rats.