Alana C. Conti PhD (bh2880)
University information
Contact information
Neurosurgery
The Conti Laboratory studies the mechanisms of alcohol action in the traumatically-injured brain. Using rodent models, experiments are designed to examine ethanol action at the cellular level and to define the signaling pathways that mediate the synaptic response to ethanol. Additional studies are aimed to examine ethanol-related behaviors, such as binge consumption and withdrawal. Of particular interest are the proteins, adenylyl cyclase 1 and 8, which promote neuronal survival in the neonatal brain following ethanol treatment in a model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and mediate ethanol-induced neuroplasticity. Together, these studies will allow us to identify protein targets of alcohol and develop interventions for the alcohol-damaged brain.
Dr. Conti completed her doctoral degree in Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania and postdoctoral training at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in the Department of Pediatrics. She is an active member of national and international neuroscience research societies, and is the author of numerous papers relating her research on ethanol action, antidepressant activity and trauma-induced neurodegeneration.
Her appointment as an associate professor in Pediatric Neurosurgery and Neurosurgery at Wayne State University fosters her interest in teaching graduate and medical students, residents and fellows.
Research
1997-2003
Ph.D., Neuroscience
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1990-1991
B.S., Biology, honors
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
1992-1995
B.S.E., Bioengineering
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1990
Valedictorian
Southfield Christian High School
Southfield, Michigan
1990
Madame Curie Science Award
Southfield Christian High School
Southfield, Michigan
1990-1994
Merit Scholarship
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
1990-1991
Deans List
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
1995
Bioengineering Senior Design Award Finalist
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1995, 1996
Poster / Travel Award Finalist
Neurotrauma Society
1999, 2002
Travel Fellowship
AccuScan
2001
Solomon Erulkar Travel Fellowship
Department of Pharmacology
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2003
Honors Elliot Stellar Postdoctoral Award
Philadelphia SFN Chapter
2003, 2004
NIDA Postdoctoral Fellowship
Department of Psychiatry
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2006-2008
NICHHD Postdoctoral Fellowship
Department of Developmental Biology
Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
2008-2013
Mentored Research Scientist Development Award
1994
Teaching Assistant
Department of Bioengineering
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1999, 2003
Teaching Assistant
Department of Biology
University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2008
Course Instructor
Department of Biology
Washington University in Saint Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
2008-2009
Course Instructor
Department of Biology
Maryville University
St. Louis, Missouri
2008-2009
Instructor
Department of Psychiatry
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri
Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences
Professor (Distinguished)
Program Director, Conti Lab
Health Science Specialist, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center (Detroit, MI)
4646 John R. St, Detroit, MI 48201
313-576-3311
Alana Conti, PhD is a tenured Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University (WSU), also holding a 5/8ths appointment at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, MI. She began her training at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a BSE in Bioengineering as well as her PhD in Neuroscience. Dr. Conti completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, where she competed successfully for an NIH K01 award focused on the role of adenylyl cyclases 1/8 in neuronal sensitivity to alcohol.
Since joining the WSU faculty in 2009, Dr. Conti has been awarded four 4-year VA Merit Review Awards (R01 equivalent) to examine the role of traumatic brain injury or traumatic stress in mediating post-injury neuronal sensitivity to drugs of abuse, including alcohol and opioids. Using preclinical models of trauma, Dr. Conti has focused her research efforts on the development of post-injury pain as mediated by oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, with a focus on interventional therapies to mitigate chronic neuropathology and functional deficits. Recently, her research program has expanded to include investigation into comorbid effects of combined posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, for which she has also been awarded a 4-year VA Merit Review Award. She has been continuously funded through internal, foundation and federal funding since 2008 and amassed over 40 peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Conti has had an extensive history of training students, research associates and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have won research awards, been federally-funded by training fellowships and earned external faculty positions. Her focus on training has culminated in her appointment as the Program Director for the Translational Neuroscience Graduate Program at WSU in 2024. She has been recognized with numerous WSU research and mentoring awards, including, the Dr. Jack Ryan Research Award, the Academy of Scholars Junior Scholar Award, the Graduate School's Junior Faculty Postdoc Mentor of the Year Award, the Research Excellence Award, the Career Development Chair Award, the College Teaching Award, and the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award. She recently served as the Vice President and Secretary of the National Neurotrauma Society, has served as an officer for the Michigan Chapter for the Society for Neuroscience, and holds membership for several national research societies. Dr. Conti regularly reviews manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals and has served on numerous VA committees, along with the WSU IACUC committee for over 10 years. She has served as the founding member of the WSU Women in Medicine and Science group, the Brain@Wayne neuroscience interest group, and the WSU Chapter of Nu Rho Psi (neuroscience student honor society), with an emphasis on enhancing trainee career development and mentorship through opportunities in biomedical research.
PhD, Neuroscience- University of Pennsylvania
Traumatic brain injury, traumatic stress, addiction, pain, inflammation
The Conti Laboratory studies the mechanisms of alcohol action in the traumatically-injured brain. Using rodent models, experiments are designed to examine ethanol action at the cellular level and to define the signaling pathways that mediate the synaptic response to ethanol. Additional studies are aimed to examine ethanol-related behaviors, such as binge consumption and withdrawal. Of particular interest are the proteins, adenylyl cyclase 1 and 8, which promote neuronal survival in the neonatal brain following ethanol treatment in a model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and mediate ethanol-induced neuroplasticity. Together, these studies will allow us to identify protein targets of alcohol and develop interventions for the alcohol-damaged brain.
Translational Neuroscience Program
Experiments designed to examine ethanol action at the cellular level and to define the signaling pathways that mediate the synaptic response to ethanol in the adult and juvenile brain. Additional studies focus on behavioral outcome following ethanol exposure. Of particular interest are the proteins, adenylyl cyclase 1 and 8, which promote neuronal survival in the neonatal brain following ethanol treatment in studies related to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Future projects will focus on development of a novel in vitro model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and defining the cellular mechanisms that regulate ethanol sensitivity following traumatic brain injury using both adult and juvenile mouse models.
Disease/Disorder
Traumatic brain injury, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and alcohol sensitivity.
Species
Mice
Methods
Molecular Biology, Immunohistochemistry, Primary Neuronal Cultures, Behavioral Animal Models.
Key Collaborators
Don Kuhn, Scott Bowen, Tiffany mathews, Shane Perrine, John Hannigan
