Marcelo F. Lopez

Marcelo F. Lopez, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), College of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorder (AUD), stress-alcohol interactions, and behavioral neuroadaptations following chronic ethanol exposure. Dr. Lopez has extensively studied how stress, early-life alcohol exposure, and neurochemical systems like kappa opioid receptors and oxytocin influence alcohol consumption and relapse using rodent models.

Dr. Lopez's work spans neuroscience, addiction biology, and behavioral pharmacology, with a particular emphasis on alcohol dependence, stress-induced drinking, and neuroplasticity in brain regions such as the nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, and extended amygdala. His recent studies highlight the role of epigenetic regulators (e.g., G9a), neuroimmune signaling (TLR3), and transcriptomic changes in promoting excessive alcohol intake and relapse behavior.

Collaborations with colleagues like Howard C. Becker, Paul J. Mulholland, and Tara L. Kash have led to significant insights into alcohol withdrawal, relapse mechanisms, and pharmacological interventions for AUD. Dr. Lopez's publications frequently appear in journals such as Neuropharmacology, Alcohol, and Neuropsychopharmacology, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to alcohol research.