Danny Winder

Danny Winder is a Professor and Chair at the UMass Chan Medical School, specializing in Neurobiology. He holds additional affiliations with the NeuroNexus Institute, MD/PhD Program, and Neuroscience departments.

• PhD in Neuroscience, Emory University
• BS in Biology, University of North Georgia

His research focuses on alcohol use disorder, stress-related neurocircuitry, and synaptic plasticity. Key areas include endocannabinoid signaling, neuropharmacology, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) mechanisms. He has developed innovative tools like the home cage lickometer system for studying alcohol consumption.

Danny Winder's recent publications highlight neurobiological adaptations in BNST circuits during alcohol withdrawal, sex differences in stress responses, and targeted receptor modulation (e.g., GluN2D, mGlu8) for therapeutic interventions. His work bridges preclinical models and human studies, emphasizing translational relevance.

Current projects involve mapping insular-BNST interactions, investigating noradrenergic and corticotropin-releasing factor pathways, and exploring pharmacological targets for alcohol and cocaine addiction. He collaborates with teams in Translational Science and NeuroNexus Institute.