Methamphetamine Research Poster Presentation

 A UW School of Pharmacy research team led by Bruce Culver, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and director of the pharmaceutical sciences division has been studying the neurodegenerative effects of methamphetamine the past few years. This study shows that one of the contaminants of illicit synthesis of meth actually worsens some of the neurotoxic effects of the drug.

A poster presentation of the research was given recently at The Society for Neuroscience meetings which were held in Atlanta, GA on Oct 14th-18th. (B. Culver; X. Zhang; D. Bruch; G.Mayer; M. Shandera "α-Benzyl-N-Methylphenethylamine, an impurity of illicit methamphetamine synthesis, augments methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity via inhibition of cytochrome P450 2D6.")

In addition to Culver, the poster was co-authored by postdoctoral candidate Xiaochun Zhang, and pharmacy students, Dave Bruch and Misty Shandera, members of the Class of 2010. Collaborators on the research include Gabi Mayer, Ph.D., former UW School of Pharmacy research scientist; Rob Palmer, Ph.D., DABAT, adjunct associate professor of clinical toxicology and pharmaceutical sciences; and Kurt Dolence, Ph.D, associate professor of medicinal chemistry.

Posted on Monday, November 13, 2006