University of North Texas Health Science Center · PhysiologyThe OCT3 Research Group
Lynette C Daws · Fort Worth, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Lynette C. Daws' lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind how psychostimulants like amphetamine and methamphetamine affect the brain, particularly through a transporter protein known as OCT3. The lab is investigating why current treatments for stimulant addiction have not been successful, aiming to identify new approaches for effective medications. By using advanced mouse models, the research seeks to explore how OCT3 contributes to dopamine release and drug-related behaviors, potentially leading to novel therapies for substance use disorders.
stimulant use disorderdopamine transporterorganic cation transporter 3amphetamine addictionmethamphetamineneuropharmacologysubstance use disorderbehavioral testingtransgenic mouse models
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the role of OCT3 in dopamine release and behavior related to amphetamine use.
AIM 02Determine how OCT3 influences self-administration of amphetamines in different mouse models.
AIM 03Explore potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of stimulant use disorder.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelspharmacologyin vivo studiesbehavioral assaysviral gene knockdowntransgenic miceconditioned place preferencedopamine release measurementdata analysis using Python
Output against the department
Publications1,115top 1% of dept.1st of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations6.4kbottom 49% of dept.145th of 286
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.