University of Toronto - 2009
University of Toronto - 2006
I completed a Neuroscience thesis at the University of Toronto at Scarborough, investigating the effects of intra-cerebroventricular injections of corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) in rats trained to self-administer cocaine. The study revealed that CRF infusions triggered the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior in rats that had previously extinguished this behavior. These findings demonstrated that stress-related peptides can induce relapse to stimulant drugs like cocaine.
University of Montreal - 2009
I earned a Master of Science in the Biomedical Sciences program (Psychiatric Sciences option) at the University of Montreal. My thesis focused on the impact of quetiapine on brain stimulation reward thresholds in rats undergoing withdrawal from chronic amphetamine use. We discovered that acute amphetamine lowered reward thresholds, while withdrawal from chronic amphetamine increased them. Quetiapine did not improve the effects of amphetamine withdrawal; instead, it raised reward thresholds by approximately 20%, exacerbating anhedonia in rats already experiencing a negative dopamine state.
University of Montreal - 2012
I completed a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Psychiatric Sciences option) at the University of Montreal. My thesis investigated the effects of quetiapine on schizophrenia patients with and without addiction, compared to individuals with addiction but without schizophrenia. We found that quetiapine was effective in managing withdrawal from alcohol and drugs in individuals without schizophrenia. Additionally, it helped treat depression and psychosis in schizophrenia patients, both with and without addiction, without significantly increasing the emergence of neurological symptoms.
University of Calgary - 2013
I did a post-doctoral fellowship at the Calgary Multiple Sclerosis Clinic. I was awarded a salary award for 3 years to study the safety and tolerability of quetiapine for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. This was based on animal data suggested that quetiapine has remyelinating properties in a number of animal models of demyelination.
Yale University School of Medicine - 2017
I did a post-doctoral fellowship at the Yale University School of Medicine. Our research focused on examining the role of the norepinephrine transporter in cocaine addiction. Subjects underwent scans using Positron Emission Tomography and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner. This was done in conjunction with physiological recording, including skin conductance, breathing, and heart-rate.