Impact of bidirectional translational research on treatment of addiction

In our years of research, focused on the biology of addictive diseases, we have used a bidirectional translational approach. By making careful observations of persons with specific addictive diseases, we have been able to refine phenotypic definitions of these complex disorders and have also gained information to develop novel animal models that, in part, mimic these diseases. Use of these models in molecular neurobiological, neurochemical, and behavioral studies has yielded findings which provide the basis for further laboratory-based research and for basic clinical research studies. Insights for potential new prevention and intervention approaches to the addictions with novel targets have been forthcoming. Also specific genes, the variants of which may be associated with addictions, or involved in the mechanisms underlying specific addictive diseases, have been identified. Thus, there has been a very positive impact, for our laboratory and numerous others, of the use of bidirectional translational research in many facets pertaining to the addictive diseases, including the treatment of addictive diseases.