Biography

The Calarco Lab investigates how the brain adapts to rewarding stimuli, including drugs such as nicotine, and how these changes drive drug-seeking behavior. Our research centers on mitochondria and how cellular metabolism supports long-lasting changes in neurons. We are particularly interested in how mitochondrial function influences gene expression, cell structure (neuronal remodeling), and behavior. By understanding how energy production is linked to changes in gene activity and neuronal architecture, we aim to identify biological pathways that could serve as new therapeutic targets for substance use disorders.

To address these questions, we use molecular and genetic approaches to measure behaviorally relevant changes in gene expression, including qPCR, RNA sequencing, and ATAC sequencing. We also use CRISPR-based genetic and epigenetic editing tools to selectively modify gene expression in specific brain cell populations, allowing us to test causal relationships between molecular signaling pathways and drug-related behaviors. In parallel, we assess mitochondrial function using respiration assays and confocal microscopy to examine changes in mitochondrial size, distribution, and activity following drug exposure or genetic manipulation.

Our current projects use mouse models of nicotine exposure and self-administration to study how repeated drug experience reshapes brain circuits. Additional work in the lab examines how dietary interventions alter mitochondrial function and influence drug-seeking behavior.

Published work can be found on PubMed.