MUSMedical University of South Carolina · Neuroscience
Otis Lab
James M Otis · Charleston, South Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. James M Otis's lab at the Medical University of South Carolina studies how brain circuits are affected by alcohol and opioid use, particularly focusing on their role in motivating drug-seeking behaviors. They use cutting-edge techniques to track neuron activity and analyze the genetic makeup of specific neuronal groups involved in addiction. Their aim is to deepen our understanding of addiction disorders and develop potential treatments.
addictionopioid use disorderalcohol use disorderneural circuitsgene expression
Research Aims
5AIM 01Identify unique neuronal ensembles involved in drug-seeking behaviors.
AIM 02Characterize the influence of alcohol and opioids on brain circuits.
AIM 03Utilize advanced imaging techniques to observe neuronal activity.
AIM 04Analyze gene expression profiles in targeted brain regions.
AIM 05Make research data publicly available for further studies.
Skills the Lab Values
in vivo calcium imagingsingle-nucleus RNA sequencingtwo-photon microscopyoptogeneticsbehavioral assays
Output against the department
Publications51bottom 11% of dept.596th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.7kbottom 17% of dept.554th of 671
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.