The Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (BPRU) at Johns Hopkins is a world leading site in the science of psychoactive drugs and behavior. Spanning the negative and positive effects of psychoactive drugs, whether illicit or legal, recreational drugs or medications, the BPRU takes a comprehensive approach to understanding all aspects of drugs, from substance use disorders and their treatment, to the development of novel psychoactive therapeutics. Few, if any, other research sites in the world have conducted human trials with such a wide variety of psychoactive drugs.
Psychoactive Drugs Under Study Here are some key substances among many studied by our researchers at BPRU.
About Our Research
For decades, the BPRU has conducted influential research and has contributed to major advances in treatments and science:
- Early research on methadone treatment of opioid use disorder
- Seminal work developing buprenorphine as a treatment for opioid use disorder
- Development and refinement of abuse-liability methods now standard in FDA evaluations
- Recognition of caffeine withdrawal as a scientific phenomenon and psychiatric diagnosis
- Modern-day resurrection of human research with classic psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin
- Cannabis research that has informed the risks and therapeutics of cannabis use and informed regulation
- Tobacco regulatory science has guided the FDA in its modern-day role of regulating tobacco and other nicotine products
- The efficacy of behavioral treatments such as contingency management as powerful therapeutics in treatment
Our research spans many approaches and designs:
- Clinical pharmacology
- Randomized clinical trials
- Abuse liability assessment
- Medications development
- Cognitive effects of drugs
- Behavioral effects of drugs and addiction
- Brain imaging (MRI, PET)
- Genetics and drugs
- Neuroscience of drugs
- Behavioral treatment of substance use disorders
- Pharmacological treatment of substance use disorders
- Integration of behavioral and pharmacological treatment
- Psychiatric co-morbidity
- Sexual, HIV, and other risks associated with drug use
- Behavior economics of drug use and risk behavior including discounting and demand processes
- Drugs and their interaction with pain
- Drugs and sleep
- Drugs and pregnancy
- Women’s health issues and drug use
Our Team
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- Denis Antoine, M.D., Assistant Professor
- Cecilia Bergeria, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
- George Bigelow, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus
- Kelly Dunn, Ph.D, MBA, Professor
- Jennifer Ellis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
- Andrew Huhn, Ph.D., Associate Professor
- Dustin Lee, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
- Kirsten Smith, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
- Maxine L. Stitzer, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus
- Tory Spindle, Ph.D., Associate Professor
- Eric Strain, M.D., Professor, BPRU Director
- Justin Strickland, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
- Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., Professor
- Elise M. Weerts, Ph.D., Professor
- David Wolinsky, M.D., Assistant Professor
- Austin Zamarripa, Ph.D., Instructor
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- Michael Kidorf, Ph.D.
- Jessica Peirce, Ph.D.
- Brian D. Richards, Psy.D.
- William A. Richards, Ph.D.
- Kenneth Silverman, Ph.D.
- Kenneth Stoller, M.D.
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- Mary M. Bailes, LCPC, Senior Clinical Research Program Manager
- Robin Clay, R.N., Senior Research Nurse
- Joe Harrison, M.S., Senior Research Program Manager
- Nancy Johnson, LAN Administrator II
- Yvette Rogers, P.A., Physician Assistant
- Leeza Wager, Pharm.D., Pharmacy Director
Education
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Fellowship
The BPRU is the site for a T32 post-doctoral training program funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This training program has operated for over 35 years.
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Internships
The BPRU Student Internship Program is designed to provide direct experience in behavioral pharmacology and human research studies to interested students and recent graduates.
BPRU Studies You May Find of Interest
Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (BPRU)
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Campus
5510 Nathan Shock Drive
Baltimore, MD 21224-6823