Dr. Ream Al-Hasani - 2020

Dr. Ream Al-Hasani is an Assistant Professor in the Center for Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy in St. Louis and Washington University in St. Louis. She earned her BS(Hons) in Pharmacology from the University of Portsmouth. Dr. Al-Hasani focused her interests on addiction by pursuing a PhD in Neuropharmacology at the University of Surrey with Ian Kitchen and Susanna Hourani where she studied the involvement of adenosine A2 receptors in morphine and cocaine addiction. Dr. Al-Hasani completed her post-doctoral training in the Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University with Michael Bruchas where she used basic research models to dissect the role of the opioid circuitry in motivated behaviors.

Dr. Al-Hasani identified two distinct subpopulations of dynorphinergic neurons within the nucleus accumbens that drive aversive and reward-related behaviors. She also uncovered a novel role for GABAergic projection neurons from the ventral tegmental area to the ventral nucleus accumbens in reward reinforcement. This work was the basis for her Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Dr. Al-Hasani's current research focuses on better understanding opioid peptide release dynamics and function in mouse models of natural rewards and threats, during drug withdrawal and following in utero exposure to opioids. Dr. Al-Hasani has also discovered a role for the kappa opioid system in cold hypersensitivity. Dr. Al-Hasani received the Cutting Edge Basic Research Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Young Investigator Award from the International Narcotics Research Conference and the Brain and Behavior Foundation Young Investigator Research Award.