University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · NeuroscienceThe Astrocyte Connection
Yan Dong · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Yan Dong's lab focuses on understanding how specific brain cells, called astrocytes, influence behaviors related to cocaine addiction. They examine how cocaine changes the connectivity in certain brain regions, particularly how these changes can lead to cravings and relapse. By studying these processes, the lab aims to uncover potential new treatment strategies for dealing with addiction.
cocaine addictionastrocytessynaptic plasticityneural circuitsdrug withdrawal
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how cocaine influences the behavior of astrocytes in the brain.
AIM 02Characterize the molecular changes in astrocytes that occur after cocaine exposure.
AIM 03Determine the relationship between astrocyte activity and cocaine-related behaviors in models of addiction.
Skills the Lab Values
two-photon microscopyRNA sequencingin vivo calcium imagingelectrophysiologymouse models
Output against the department
Publications210top 35% of dept.234th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.9kbottom 11% of dept.596th 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.