Research Interests/Background:

I graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2007 with a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology / Behavioral Neuroscience.  Using brain microdialysis, HPLC, and various behavioral assays, my dissertation research focused on characterizing dopamine system alterations and neurotoxicity associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and cocaine abuse.  A second line of research attempted to elucidate dopaminergic and adrenergic receptor alterations following prenatal cocaine exposure.

I joined Sara Jones’ laboratory at Wake Forest University School of Medicine as a post-doctoral fellow in December of 2007.  My current research interests reside in using fast scan cyclic voltammetry, microdialysis, and HPLC to characterize altered neurochemistry and transporter (DAT, SERT) function associated with cocaine self-administration, speedball (cocaine + heroin), and methylphenidate (Ritalin).  Relating altered neurochemistry and presynaptic terminal function to behavior associated with drug addiction and dependence is an overarching theme to my research. 

Selected Publications:

Peer-Reviewed Journals

Ferris MJ, Frederick-Duus D, Fadel J, Mactutus CF, Booze RM. (2008). In vivo microdialysis in awake, freely-moving rats, demonstrates HIV-1 Tat-induced alterations in dopamine transmission. Synapse, in press

Ferris MJ, Mactutus CF, BoozeRM. (2008). Neurotoxic profiles of HIV, psychostimulant drugs of abuse, and their concerted effect on the brain: Current status of dopamine system vulnerability in NeuroAIDS. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 32(5): 883-909.

Ferris MJ, Mactutus CF, Silvers JM, Hasselrot U, Beaudin SA, Strupp BJ, Booze RM. (2007). Sex mediates dopamine and adrenergic receptor expression in adult rats exposed prenatally to cocaine. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 25(7): 445-454. 


Conference Proceedings

Ferris MJ, España RE, Roberts DCS, Jones SR. (2008). Speedball (cocaine + heroin) has rapid and long-lasting effects on dopamine kinetics and nerve terminal function. In Phillips PEM, Sandberg SG, Ahn S, Phillips AG (Eds.) Monitoring Molecules in Neuroscience. Proceedings of the 12^th International Conference on In Vivo Methods, 337-339.

Brookshire BR, Ferris MJ, Mateo Y, Jones SR. (2008). Changes in dopamine/serotonin interactions following chronic methylphenidate: evidence for altered serotonin receptors. In Phillips PEM, Sandberg SG, Ahn S, Phillips AG (Eds.) Monitoring Molecules in Neuroscience. Proceedings of the 12^th International Conference on In Vivo Methods, 328-330.

Ferris MJ, Silvers JM, Hasselrot U, Strupp BJ, Mactutus CF, Booze RM. (2006). Enduring receptor alterations resulting from prenatal cocaine exposure. Journal of Developmental Psychobiology, 48(7), 610.


Abstracts

Ferris MJ, Espana RE, Roberts DCS, Jones SR. (2008, August). Speedball (cocaine + heroin) has rapid and long-lasting effects on dopamine kinetics and nerve terminal function.  Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington, DC.

Konstantopoulos JK, Ferris MJ, Roberts DCS, Jones SR (2008, November). Diurnal variations in dopamine release and uptake in the striatum.  Society for Neuroscience Meeting, Washington, DC.

Ferris MJ, Frederick-Duus D, Fadel J, Mactutus CF, Booze RM. (2007, November). Cocaine-induced dopamine transporter and transmission alterations in the striatum, both alone and in the presence of the HIV-Tat protein: studies using zero-net-flux and reverse microdialysis in the rat. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Silvers JM, Ferris MJ, Harrod SB, Mactutus CF, Booze RM. (2007, November). Response to novelty correlates with dopamine receptor alterations in prenatal cocaine exposed adolescent rats. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, San Diego, CA.

Ferris MJ, Frederick-Duus D, Fadel J, Mactutus CF, Booze RM. (2007, October). Functional dysregulation of dopamine transmission and the dopamine transporter associated with the HIV-1 Tat protein and repeated cocaine administration. The International Society for NeuroVirology Meeting, San Diego, CA.