Virginia Commonwealth University · PharmacologyRamamoorthy Addiction Lab
Sammanda Ramamoorthy · Richmond, Virginia
Research Focus
Dr. Sammanda Ramamoorthy's lab conducts research to understand the neurobiology of cocaine use disorder, a condition affecting many individuals in the U.S. By investigating how certain proteins in the brain interact with cocaine and dopamine, the lab aims to uncover new ways to treat this serious addiction. The research explores the role of the dopamine transporter and its modification by kappa-opioid receptors in drug responses, which could lead to breakthrough therapies.
cocaine addictiondopamine transporterkappa-opioid receptorsneuropathologysubstance use disorder
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how T53 phosphorylation affects kappa-opioid receptor-mediated dopamine transporter function.
AIM 02Examine the impact of DAT phosphorylation on dopamine dynamics and cocaine effects in vivo.
AIM 03Identify how phosphorylated DAT influences drug-seeking behaviors in response to cocaine and stress.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelsbehavioral assaysphosphorylation analysisviral gene deliveryfiber photometryneurochemical measurementsbiochemical assaysflow cytometrymicrodialysis
Output against the department
Publications107bottom 28% of dept.331st of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.6ktop 43% of dept.200th of 462
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.