Regina Mangieri

Regina Mangieri, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pharmacology & Toxicology within the College of Pharmacy at The University of Texas at Austin. She is the principal investigator of the Mangieri Lab, which is also affiliated with the prestigious Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research.

Dr. Mangieri's educational background includes:

• B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Mathematics from Monmouth College (2002), graduating summa cum laude
• Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of California, Irvine (2008)
• Postdoctoral training at The University of Texas at Austin (2008-2013)

Dr. Mangieri's research program focuses on understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol use disorders. Her work combines behavioral pharmacology with ex vivo electrophysiological techniques to examine how ethanol exposure and neuroimmune signaling pathways regulate cellular physiology and synaptic transmission in the brain. A significant portion of her research investigates the role of the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, and agranular insular cortex in alcohol-related behaviors, with particular attention to sex differences and hormonal influences. Her lab has made important contributions to understanding how alcohol affects glutamatergic and dopaminergic signaling, synaptic plasticity, and neural circuit function.

Dr. Mangieri's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on the intersection of alcohol research, neuropharmacology, and electrophysiology. Her work spans from basic molecular mechanisms to translational studies with clinical relevance. Recent publications highlight her lab's expertise in identifying novel therapeutic targets for alcohol use disorder, examining sex differences in alcohol responses, and investigating the role of neuroimmune signaling in alcohol-related behaviors.

Scientific awards and recognitions:

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Dr. Mangieri serves as the head of the Target Validation Electrophysiology Core of the NIAAA-sponsored Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism-Neuroimmune Consortium. She has successfully mentored several graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including Philip Lambeth and Joel Shillinglaw, who have gone on to establish their own research careers. Her lab currently includes research staff such as Heather Aziz and Daniela Carrizales, who contribute to the diverse research projects underway.

The Mangieri Lab maintains active collaborations with multiple research groups through the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research and the broader neuroscience community at UT Austin. The lab utilizes a multidisciplinary approach that combines behavioral testing with sophisticated electrophysiological techniques to address fundamental questions about alcohol's effects on the brain.