Nigel T Maidment

Nigel T Maidment is a Professor-in-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine. His research spans multiple neuroscience disciplines with a focus on understanding the neurochemical basis of behavior, particularly in relation to addiction, neurodegenerative diseases, and decision-making processes. He leads an active research laboratory that combines behavioral neuroscience with advanced neurochemical monitoring techniques.

Dr. Maidment's research interests center on dopamine signaling, opioid systems, and their roles in reward processing, addiction, and neurodegenerative disorders. His work investigates how neurotransmitters like dopamine modulate motivational states and decision-making, with particular attention to how these processes are altered in conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. He has developed innovative methods for real-time neurochemical monitoring in behaving animals, enabling precise examination of dynamic neurotransmitter fluctuations during behavior.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on neurodegenerative diseases (particularly Parkinson's and Alzheimer's), addiction mechanisms, and the development of advanced neural monitoring technologies. There's a clear trajectory toward understanding the intersection of neurochemical signaling, behavior, and disease processes, with increasing emphasis on translational approaches that bridge basic neuroscience with clinical applications. His work often employs sophisticated behavioral paradigms combined with cutting-edge neurochemical monitoring techniques.

Dr. Maidment has secured substantial research funding as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH grants, including projects on multi-organ-on-chip devices for modeling opioid reinforcement, decision-making across the lifespan, proSAAS-mediated neuroprotective mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases, and cafeteria diet-induced dysregulation of food seeking. His laboratory appears to collaborate extensively with other researchers at UCLA and beyond, particularly in the fields of neuroengineering, Parkinson's disease research, and addiction neuroscience.