University of Maryland, Baltimore · NeuroscienceThe Opioid Impact Lab
Mary Kay Lobo · Baltimore, Maryland
Research Focus
Dr. Mary Kay Lobo's lab at the University of Maryland Baltimore focuses on understanding the neurological impacts of substance abuse, particularly the effects of perinatal opioid exposure and cocaine addiction. By using mouse models, her research investigates how these substances alter brain circuitry and behavior, aiming to uncover the underlying cellular and molecular changes that lead to long-term psychological issues. This research is crucial for developing effective treatments for individuals affected by substance use disorders and neurodevelopmental problems arising from opioid exposure during pregnancy.
opioid exposuresubstance use disordercocaine addictionneurodevelopmental disordersbrain circuitrybehavioral neurosciencemitochondrial dynamicscellular plasticityneural circuitsmolecular mediators
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the long-lasting effects of perinatal opioid exposure on brain behavior and circuitry in mice.
AIM 02Examine mitochondrial processes in neurons related to cocaine addiction and drug seeking behavior.
AIM 03Identify molecular mechanisms and transcriptional regulators that mediate drug effects in the brain.
AIM 04Explore sex-specific differences in emotional behavior following perinatal substance exposure.
AIM 05Characterize the interactions between neural circuits and mitochondrial dynamics in addiction mechanisms.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelscell cultureimmunohistochemistryCRISPRchemogeneticselectrophysiologyRNA sequencingbehavioral assaysgenetic manipulationdrug self-administration protocols
Output against the department
Publications155top 48% of dept.322nd of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations12ktop 35% of dept.233rd of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.