Zheng-Ming Ding

Dr. Zheng-Ming Ding is an Associate Professor at Penn State University, affiliated with the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics. He is also associated with the Penn State Neuroscience Institute.

His research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms of substance use disorders, particularly nicotine and alcohol addiction, using behavioral, neurochemical, and chemogenetic approaches. Key areas include neurotransmitter systems (dopamine, glutamate), neural circuits (prefrontal cortex), and interactions between nicotine and its metabolite cotinine.

• Investigates cotinine's role in nicotine reinforcement
• Studies prefrontal cortex involvement in alcohol addiction
• Explores links between Alzheimer's disease pathology and nicotine addiction

Article trends show a consistent focus on addiction mechanisms, with recent work spanning neuropharmacology, behavioral paradigms, and translational models.

He has secured NIH funding for his research, including a 2017-2022 NIDA grant on cotinine's role in nicotine use disorders.