UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NICOTINE RESEARCH LABORATORY
ABOUT THE NICOTINE RESEARCH LABORATORY
In 1985, Ovide F. Pomerleau, Ph.D., along with his colleague and collaborator, Cynthia S. Pomerleau, Ph.D., moved the Nicotine Research Laboratory from the University of Connecticut to the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry. The Laboratory had already published major findings on the effects of nicotine on pituitary hormones, including release of beta-endorphin, observations that have continued to generate research on the molecular level on the role of opioid peptides in the reinforcement of smoking. The move to Michigan led to increased funding and productivity, including
demonstration and subsequent validation of nicotine’s euphoric effects
systematic studies of smoking and menstrual phase interactions
research on psychiatric cofactors for smoking (including adult attention deficit disorder, depression, and eating disorders)
concerns about postcessation weight gain as a barrier to quitting
effects of long-term nicotine patch use in improving abstinence rates
research on the importance of positive and negative early experiences with smoking in driving subsequent smoking history
characterization of smoking phenotypes based on patterns of withdrawal symptomatology
development of a new model for examining differences in the reinforcement potential of nicotine based on comparisons of never-smokers with positive vs. negative family smoking histories
the importance of complex phenotypes in refining our understanding of the strong heritability of smoking and tobacco dependence
With the transition of Drs. Ovide and Cindy Pomerleau to active emeritus status in 2009, the physical plant closed, but the Laboratory's work continues its impact on the field, as evidenced by around 7,000 citations since 2009 (including around 400 in the past year alone).
Publications from the Pomerleau Laboratory can be viewed here.
