Doo-Sup Choi, Ph.D.

Neurobehavioral and addictive disorders impose major public health and social problems with substantial worldwide economic loss. Like other complex disorders, both genetic and environmental factors contribute to alcohol use disorders and other substance addictions.

Focus areas

Dr. Choi's laboratory focuses on identifying novel therapeutic targets utilizing cutting-edge techniques in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, neuroimaging and pharmacology.

Dr. Choi and his colleagues are particularly interested in the neurobiological mechanisms of several addictive behaviors, such as sensitivity (or level of response) to alcohol intoxication, reward, aversion, and withdrawal symptoms, as well as alcohol drinking or self-administration. They also investigate co-occurring or co-morbid neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorders.

Significance to patient care

Neurobehavioral and addictive disorders impose major public health and social problems with substantial worldwide economic loss. Like other complex disorders, both genetic and environmental factors contribute to alcohol use disorders and other substance addictions. The ultimate goal of Dr. Choi's research is to translate our research into clinical practice, focusing on individualized treatment paradigms through convergent functional genomics and neuroimaging.