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The effect of psychosocial and craving-induced stress on transcriptomics in cocaine users: a longitudinal approach
The Master candidate will assess the gene-expression (transcriptomics) alterations as a result of psychosocial stress and cocaine drug craving-related stress in cocaine users and matched healthy controls. Transcriptomic and statistical techniques will be applied.
It is assumed that an increased susceptibility to stress plays an important role in the development, preservation, and relapse of cocaine addiction. However, previous research applying laboratory stress paradigms to cocaine users exclusively investigated hormonal responses but so far neglected potential changes in the expression of stress-related genes. It is furthermore unclear how alterations of the stress axis and stress-related genes change over time and if these changes are e.g., reversible after prolonged abstinence. We therefore investigate the effects of psychosocial stress (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST) and drug craving-related stress on peripheral expression of stress-related genes (levels of mRNA in blood) in 50 regular cocaine users and 40 matched healthy controls at baseline and at a 4-months follow-up. We expect to find broad changes in the expression of stress-related genes in cocaine users, which are malleable over time depending on changes of cocaine consumption. Currently we offer a project involving the isolation of RNA from blood samples up to assessment of transcriptomics results with the clinical data.
The Master candidate will learn to isolate blood DNA and RNA, reverse transcribe RNA and run real-time RT-PCR techniques following by data analysis using several software, such as CFX, LinReg, qBASE, SPSS etc.. The candidate will have the chance to assess the associations between clinical data and transcriptomics and learn some statistical methods following by interpret scientifically the obtained results.
It is assumed that an increased susceptibility to stress plays an important role in the development, preservation, and relapse of cocaine addiction. However, previous research applying laboratory stress paradigms to cocaine users exclusively investigated hormonal responses but so far neglected potential changes in the expression of stress-related genes. It is furthermore unclear how alterations of the stress axis and stress-related genes change over time and if these changes are e.g., reversible after prolonged abstinence. We therefore investigate the effects of psychosocial stress (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST) and drug craving-related stress on peripheral expression of stress-related genes (levels of mRNA in blood) in 50 regular cocaine users and 40 matched healthy controls at baseline and at a 4-months follow-up. We expect to find broad changes in the expression of stress-related genes in cocaine users, which are malleable over time depending on changes of cocaine consumption. Currently we offer a project involving the isolation of RNA from blood samples up to assessment of transcriptomics results with the clinical data. The Master candidate will learn to isolate blood DNA and RNA, reverse transcribe RNA and run real-time RT-PCR techniques following by data analysis using several software, such as CFX, LinReg, qBASE, SPSS etc.. The candidate will have the chance to assess the associations between clinical data and transcriptomics and learn some statistical methods following by interpret scientifically the obtained results.
The aim of this study is to assess psychosocial and craving-induced stress on gene expression in cocaine users.
The aim of this study is to assess psychosocial and craving-induced stress on gene expression in cocaine users.
The candidate should have a bachelor degree in Biology/Neuroscience/Medicine/Psychology and some basic background in wet-laboratory techniques and psychiatry/neuroscience. Experience with office-software and data analysis software will be of benefit. Candidates should submit a CV, all obtained certificates, and current master studies courses and grades, motivation letter and his/her experience with laboratory techniques.
Prof. Boris Quednow; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich (PUK), quednow@bli.uzh.ch; https://www.dppp.uzh.ch/en/research/psychiatric/substance/experimental/team/quednowboris.html
Prof. Edna Grünblatt; Translational Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (KJPP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich (PUK); edna.gruenblatt@kjpd.uzh.ch; https://www.kjpd.uzh.ch/de/translationale-molekularpsychiatrie.html
The candidate should have a bachelor degree in Biology/Neuroscience/Medicine/Psychology and some basic background in wet-laboratory techniques and psychiatry/neuroscience. Experience with office-software and data analysis software will be of benefit. Candidates should submit a CV, all obtained certificates, and current master studies courses and grades, motivation letter and his/her experience with laboratory techniques. Prof. Boris Quednow; Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich (PUK), quednow@bli.uzh.ch; https://www.dppp.uzh.ch/en/research/psychiatric/substance/experimental/team/quednowboris.html Prof. Edna Grünblatt; Translational Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (KJPP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich (PUK); edna.gruenblatt@kjpd.uzh.ch; https://www.kjpd.uzh.ch/de/translationale-molekularpsychiatrie.html