معرفی
Rafael Perez is an Associate Research Scientist at Yale University's Department of Psychiatry, affiliated with the Yale School of Medicine. He holds a PhD in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University and a BS in Biology from York College of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction, particularly opioid and cocaine use, with an emphasis on contextual tolerance and stress-induced relapse. Perez is a recipient of the Kavli Postdoctoral Award for Academic Diversity (2021), recognizing his contributions to neuroscience diversity and translational research.
Education:
- PhD in Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University (2020)
- BS in Biology, York College of Pennsylvania (2013)
Research Interests: His work integrates neuropharmacology and behavioral neuroscience to study how environmental cues and biological factors interact in addiction. Key areas include dopamine signaling in addiction, α2A-adrenergic receptor pathways, and translational strategies to address disparities in substance use outcomes.
Publications: Recent work highlights mechanisms of cocaine-induced neuronal inhibition in the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the role of stress in cocaine relapse. These studies contribute to understanding addiction pathways and potential therapeutic targets.
Awards:
- Kavli Postdoctoral Award for Academic Diversity (2021)
Labs & Mentorship: He works in the lab of Marina Picciotto, focusing on opioid tolerance mechanisms. His long-term goals include establishing an independent lab to study addiction disparities in underserved communities while training diverse scientists.
