Project Summary

Mark Barad, M.D., Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2000) of University of California, Los Angeles, is working on understanding the molecular mechanisms that may underlie post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that results from exposure to life threatening or other traumatizing situations; and it generally does not respond well to medications.  Using an mouse model, Dr. Barad will test behavioral measures of unconditioned fear and anxiety, conditioned fear, cognition, and impulsiveness.  He will then capitalize on an extensive literature on the molecular basis of cognitive learning to test a variety of molecules for their roles in the establishment or extinction of these behavioral measures.  These studies promise to improve understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie PTSD, and identify targets for therapeutic medications that may help accelerate recovery from these disorders.

Program Area: MULTIPLE FOCUS AREAS\PTSD/Phobia

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