Northwestern University · BiologyHe Addiction Lab
Congcong He · Evanston, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Congcong He's lab at Northwestern University focuses on understanding how specific cellular processes influence cocaine addiction. The team investigates the role of autophagy, a recycling mechanism in cells, particularly how a protein called Becn2 interacts with dopamine receptors related to cocaine reward and relapse. By exploring these molecular pathways, the lab aims to identify potential new treatments for cocaine abuse and other drug addictions.
cocaine addictionautophagydopamine receptorsreward behaviorrelapseaddiction treatment
Research Aims
4AIM 01Explore how Becn2 affects dopamine receptor regulation in cocaine addiction
AIM 02Investigate the ULK1-Vps34-Becn2 pathway in dopamine neurons
AIM 03Assess the impact of genetic modifications on cocaine-related behaviors
AIM 04Examine how Becn2 influences reward-seeking behaviors in mice
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturegenetic manipulation in miceimmunohistochemistrybiochemical assaysmass spectrometrybehavioral assaysWestern blotpharmacological inhibitionmolecular imagingdata analysis in R
Output against the department
Publications96bottom 33% of dept.686th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations21ktop 18% of dept.185th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.