Investigating pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder using Drosophila melanogaster

Congratulations to postdoc Dr. Rebecca Oramas, lab alumni Yanabah Jacques & Natalie D'Silva, collaborator Dr. John McGeary, and lab manager Reza Azanchi for the recent publication of "Investigating pharmacotherapies for alcohol use disorder using Drosophila melanogaster" in the Research Society on Alcohol's flagship journal Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research.

This article tests a number of FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD) for their efficacy in fly alcohol consumption, preference and memory as proof of principle that flies are a great model to test AUD medications. Then, it also demonstrates that gamma-secretase inhibitors, which reduce Notch signaling, work well for reducing alcohol consumption and cue-induced alcohol seeking.

This work was highlighted in Articles of Public Interest by the Research Society on Alcohol in a feature: Can Fruit Flies Help Scientists Develop Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder?