We are thrilled to announce that our postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Andria Michael, from the Zanos lab, has been awarded a prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie young investigator grant under the ONISILOS co-fund scheme. This grant will support Dr. Michael’s innovative research aimed at identifying the role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGF-A) in the development of substance use disorders.

This cross-species project integrates cutting-edge molecular neurobiology and epigenetic methodologies, utilizing both mouse and zebrafish models to provide a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms. The study is supervised by Dr. Panos Zanos and benefits from collaborative efforts with Prof. Niovi Santama (University of Cyprus) and Prof. Debby Van Dam (University of Antwerp), bringing together expertise from multiple institutions.

By combining diverse animal models and advanced research techniques, this ambitious project aims to uncover hidden mechanisms leading to the development of substance use disorders. The findings from this study have the potential to significantly contribute to our understanding of addiction neurobiology and pave the way for next-generation, more effective treatments.

This grant not only recognizes Dr. Michael’s exceptional potential as a young investigator but also underscores the importance of innovative, multidisciplinary approaches in addressing complex neuropsychiatric conditions. We look forward to the groundbreaking insights that will emerge from this research, potentially transforming our approach to substance use disorder prevention and treatment.