Research Opportunities in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology

CARDIOVASCULAR AND RENAL PHARMACOLOGY

NEAL L. BENOWITZ, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry and Biopharmaceutical Sciences

Dr. Benowitz’s research focuses primarily on the human pharmacology of nicotine and other stimulant drugs. His laboratory has conducted studies of the disposition kinetics, metabolism and pharmacodynamics of nicotine, with an emphasis on the role of nicotine in maintaining nicotine addiction and in causing tobacco related diseases, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Current research is examining genetic aspects of nicotine metabolism and nicotine addiction, neuroendocrine responses to nicotine as a marker of susceptibility to nicotine addiction, the role of nicotine metabolizing enzymes as a risk factor for lung cancer, ethnic and gender differences in nicotine pharmacology, and interaction between nicotine and stimulant drugs, including methamphetamine and cocaine. Dr. Benowitz is also interested in the application of clinical pharmacology to developing a rational public policy for tobacco regulation and control.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Hukkanen J, Gourlay SG, Kenkare S, Benowitz NL. Influence of menstrual cycle on cytochrome P450 2A6 activity and cardiovascular effects of nicotine. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 77(3):159-169, 2005.
Swan GE, Benowitz NL, Lessov CN, Jacob P, 3rd, Tyndale RF, Wilhelmsen K. Nicotine metabolism: the impact of CYP2A6 on estimates of addictive genetic influence. Pharmacogenetics & Genomics, 15:115-126, 2005.
Campuzano JC, Hernandez-Avila M, Jaakkola MS, Lazcano Ponce E, Kuri Morales P, Bautista P, Benowitz NL, Ceraso M, Blackford A, Samet JM. Determinants of salivary cotinine levels among current smokers in Mexico. Nicotine Tob Res, 6(6):997-1008, 2004.