Dr. Fantegrossi trained as a behavioral pharmacologist at the University of Michigan and the Yerkes National Primate Research Center. When not lifting weights or slaying imaginary dragons, his research focuses on the behavioral pharmacology of emerging drugs of abuse, including designer psychostimulants (“bath salts”), cannabinoids (“K2 / Spice” products), and hallucinogens. His lab employs a variety of in vivo assays to study drug actions, including biotelemetry, intravenous drug self-administration, conditioned place preference, drug discrimination, operant behavior, antinociception, and drug-elicited behaviors. The ultimate goal of these studies is to better understand the abuse-related effects of novel pharmacological entities in order to inform clinicians, develop therapeutic strategies, and guide legislation.
Justin is a graduate student in the Fantegrossi Lab. His research focuses on in vivo drug-drug interactions between psychiatric medications and synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists.
Hannah is a research assistant responsible for collecting data for the lab’s current contracts. She carries out experimental manipulations to assess the relative potency, duration of action, metabolism, and abuse-related effects of novel drugs for contract work with the DEA. The DEA will ultimately use this data to make scheduling recommendations for these drugs under the Controlled Substances Act. She is also involved in experiments to elucidate the in vivo effects of novel MDXX (similar to MDMA) drugs, which may be helpful as “psychedelic medicine” to treat various psychiatric disorders. She earned her B.S. from Texas A&M University and her MLAS from Drexel University. Her career aspirations include attending veterinary school and continuing in pharmacology research.