Eric J. Nestler

  • PROFESSOR & CHAIR Neuroscience
  • DIRECTOR Friedman Brain Institute 
  • PROFESSOR Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics
  • PROFESSOR Psychiatry
Print ProfilePrint Profile

Email

Specialty

Certifications

  • Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Education

  • MD, Yale University School of Medicine

  • Ph.D., Yale University

  • Internship, Medicine/Psychiatry
    Mclean Hospital

  • Residency, Psychiatry
    Yale University School of Medicine

  • Fellowship, Pharmacology
    Yale University School of Medicine

  • Fellowship, Psychiatry
    Yale University School of Medicine

Biography

    Dr. Nestler is the Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the Friedman Brain Institute. His laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms of drug addiction and depression in animal models.

    Visit Eric Nestler's Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Conte Center on Depression for more information.




Awards

  • 2010 -
    Sarnat Prize, Institute of Medicine

  • 2005 -
    American Academy of Arts and Science

  • 1998 -
    Institute of Medicine

Research

Specific Clinical/Research Interest: Molecular neurobiology of drug addiction and depression; transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in the brain.

Current Students: Caroline Dias, Diane Damez-Werno and Haosheng Sun

Postdoctoral Fellows: Rosemary Bagot, Michael Cahill, Jian Feng, Deveroux Ferguson, Elizabeth Heller, Pamela Kennedy, Ja-Wook Koo, Nori Ohnishi, Michelle Mazei-Robison, Alfred Robison, Kimberly Scobie, Vincent Vialou

Research Personnel: Zeke Mouzon, Rebecca Burger-Caplan, Allison Paige Lawrence and Isaac Mensah

Our research focuses on identifying the neurobiological basis of drug addiction and depression in rodent models. We study the molecular and cellular changes that occur in regions of the brain important for reward and motivation in response to chronic administration of a drug of abuse or chronic exposure to stress. We are particularly interested in long-lasting changes that are mediated via alterations in gene expression and chromatin remodeling. The result of the research will guide future efforts toward the development of more effective treatments for addiction and depression.


For more, please visit Selected Publications:

Publications

Russo SJ, Dietz DM, Dumitriu D, Morrison JH, Malenka RC, Nestler EJ. The addicted synapse: Mechanisms of synaptic and structural plasticity in nucleus accumbens. Trends Neurosci. 2010; 33: 267-276.

Lobo MK, Covington HE, Chaudhury D, Friedman AK, Sun HS, Damez-Werno D, Dietz D, Zaman S, Koo JW, Kennedy PJ, Mouzon E, Mogri M, Neve RL, Deisseroth K, Han MH, Nestler EJ. Cell type specific loss of BDNF signaling mimics optogenetic control of cocaine reward. Science 2010; 330: 385-390.

Maze I, Covington HE, Dietz DM, LaPlant Q, Renthal W, Russo SJ, Mechanic M, Mouzon E, Neve RL, Haggarty SJ, Ren YH, Sampath SC, Hurd YL, Greengard P, Tarakovsky A, Schaefer A, Nestler EJ. Essential role of the histone methyltransferase G9a in cocaine-induced plasticity. Science 2010; 327: 213-216.

Nestler EJ. Transcriptional mechanisms of addiction: role of deltaFosB. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, B Biol. Sci. 2008; 363: 3245-3255.

Industry Relationships

Physicians and scientists on the faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.

Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Nestler during 2011 and/or 2012. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.

Consulting:

  • Berg Pharma (Berg Biosystems)

Scientific Advisory Board:

  • Merck & Co., Inc.; Neurologix, Inc.; PsychoGenics, Inc.

Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://www.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.

Edit profile in Sinai Central

Address

Icahn Medical Institute Floor 10 Room 10-23
1425 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10029

Tel: 212-659-5656
Fax: 212-659-8510