Joseph  Brady, Ph.D

Professor of Behavioral Biology

Telephone Number:   (410) 550-2779

Fax Number:   (410) 550-2780

Bayview Medical Center

Behavioral Biology Research Center

5510 Nathan Shock Drive

Baltimore, Md. 21224

Room:

              Research activities focus upon areas of investigation concerned with the experimental analysis of behavior and interactions involving physiological, pharmacological and environmental processes.

              Current emphasis of laboratory animal studies focuses upon the experimental analysis of the reinforcing and discriminative functions of pharmacological agents with the objective of evaluating compounds for dependence potential and abuse liability. Drug self-administration models developed with laboratory primates utilizing both intravenous and oral routes of administration assess a range of stimulant, depressant and anxiolytic compounds to compare their reinforcing and discriminative functions with classical barbiturate and opioid drugs of abuse and dependence. Studies are conducted to refine the behavioral and pharmacological definition of drug categories and subcategories, to identify active metabolites, analogues and novel drug effects as well as to enhance both pre-clinical and clinical drug evaluation procedures. In addition, the analysis of neuro-transmitter/receptor dynamics combined with drug/behavior profiles is pursued to provide an understanding of the neurochemical participants in behavioral interactions.

              Studies of drug/behavior interactions with human participants are undertaken to assess the conditions under which laboratory-developed medications for drug dependence and abuse liability provide effective therapeutic interventions. Sensorimotor and cognitive performance effects of drugs are studied in both controlled human laboratory experiments and in clinical settings provided by an innovative mobile drug abuse treatment program operating effectively in the city of Baltimore. Assessment procedures developed to evaluate physiological and pharmacological effects upon behavior are also currently under study to assess the effects of spaceflight on the stability and precision of human performance.