University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill · PsychologyCognitive Neuroscience and Inflammation Lab
Ryan Peter Vetreno · Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Ryan Vetreno's lab at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill studies the effects of adolescent binge drinking on the brain, particularly how it influences cholinergic neurons and cognitive functions later in life. They focus on the role of inflammatory signals in causing temporary changes to the genetics of these neurons, which can lead to memory and cognitive impairments. Their research aims to uncover potential therapeutic targets to reverse these negative changes and improve brain health.
adolescent binge drinkingcognitive deficitscholinergic neuronsinflammationepigeneticsalcohol use disorderneuroplasticityneurodegenerationbrain development
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how proinflammatory HMGB1 signaling affects cholinergic neuron phenotype and cognitive flexibility.
AIM 02Examine the role of neuroinflammation in reducing hippocampal NGF and its impact on BFCN epigenetics.
AIM 03Determine the effects of adolescent binge drinking on chromatin changes and neuronal function.
Skills the Lab Values
animal modelspharmacological interventionsviral vector techniquestransgenic technologychromatin accessibility assayssingle-cell transcriptomicselectrophysiologybehavioral testingimmunohistochemistry
Output against the department
Publications108bottom 31% of dept.204th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.0kbottom 38% of dept.184th of 296
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.