WFUWake Forest University · Neuroscience
Cocaine Addiction Research Studio
Paul W. Czoty · Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Paul W. Czoty's research lab focuses on understanding cocaine use disorder (CUD) using nonhuman primate models. The lab investigates the role of nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors in addiction and aims to develop new treatments for CUD using innovative pharmacotherapies. By combining behavioral studies and advanced imaging techniques, the lab seeks to provide insights into the neurobiology of addiction and improve treatment strategies for this public health issue.
cocaine use disorderNOP receptorspharmacotherapynonhuman primateaddictionbrain imagingself-administrationneurobiologysex differencesbuprenorphine analogs
Research Aims
3AIM 01Examine how NOP receptors influence vulnerability to developing cocaine use disorder.
AIM 02Identify changes in brain NOP receptors with repeated imaging during long-term cocaine use.
AIM 03Assess the effectiveness of NOP receptor-acting drugs in reducing cocaine self-administration.
Skills the Lab Values
PET imagingdrug self-administrationmonkey behavioral studiespharmacodynamicsbrain receptor binding analysisstudy design in behavioral neurosciencecompound screeningdata analysisanimal handlingtranslational research methods
Output against the department
Publications135bottom 48% of dept.352nd of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.2kbottom 24% of dept.510th 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.