Our research efforts are devoted to understanding the complex manner in which genes regulate neural circuits of the brain. Of particular interest to us is the neural circuitry of the brain that is regulated by the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is a member of the monoamine neurotransmitters that is synthesized from the amino acid tyrosine. Acting through a family of G-protein coupled receptors, dopamine is a powerful modulator of neural circuits in the brain that regulate many of our emotions from pleasure to fear. To understand how dopamine influences such a broad range of emotional behavior, we utilize a suite of experimental approaches that includes behavioral genetics, viral-mediated gene transfer, in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiology, in vivo and ex vivo neural imaging, and molecular biology. By unraveling the nature of genetic regulation of the dopamine system we hope to better understand how dysfunction of this system contributes to a range of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders from Parkinson’s disease to schizophrenia, autism, depression, anxiety, and addiction.

The Zweifel Lab is also the home of the Molecular Genetics Resource Core for the Center in Neurobiology of Addiction, Pain, and Emotion (NAPE Center). Headed by Dr. Selena Schattauer, this core facility produces and validates CRISPR/SaCas9 viral vectors (AAV) for pilot projects within the NAPE community. Learn more about the NAPE Center here.