Craig R. Rush, Ph.D.

(University of Vermont, 1992)

Laboratory of Human Behavioral Pharmacology (LHBP)
Lexington, KY  40507
Lab Telephone: 859-257-5388
Lab FAX: 859-257-7684
Office Telephone: 859-323-6130
crush2@uky.edu

Research Description

Dr. Rush’s research interests are primarily focused on identifying putative pharmacotherapies for the management of stimulant dependence. Dr. Rush uses the principles of pharmacology and behavioral analysis to determine the effects of commonly abused stimulants alone and following pretreatment with the putative pharmacotherapy.  Special emphasis is given to putative stimulant antagonists as well as agonist replacement therapies. Currently, there are four funded projects underway in Dr. Rush’s laboratory. The first project is investigating the neuropharmacology of stimulant abuse in humans.  Specifically, this project is attempting to elucidate the role of dopamine, a chemical in the brain, in mediating the effects of stimulants in humans.  They use a human drug-discrimination procedure and subject-rated drug-effect questionnaires to assess drug effects in volunteers with recent histories of stimulant use. This project has important implications for validating animal models and for understanding the neuropharmacology of stimulant abuse in humans.  Two projects are investigating the efficacy of novel antipsychotics as putative pharmacotherapies for stimulant dependence. The final project is attempting to elucidate to identify the behavioral mechanism that mediates the clinical effects of agonist replacement therapies for cocaine dependence.  This project will also determine the efficacy of novel agonist replacement therapies. These projects could have implications for the treatment of methamphetamine and cocaine dependence..

2008 Accomplishments

Dr. Rush was extremely productive during 2008 in the areas of research, teaching, and service. Dr. Rush is currently the principal investigator on five (5) R01 applications from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Two of these grants were awarded during 2008 (DA025032 and DA025591). Dr. Rush is a co-investigator on six (6) other NIH-funded projects, which reflects his collaborative spirit. Dr. Rush is also a co-investigator on two applications submitted to NIH by junior faculty, which attests to his commitment to the development of junior colleague. He published at least five (5) manuscripts during 2008 and at least others are scheduled for publication in early 2009. During 2007, Dr. Rush contributed to the teaching mission of the Department of Behavioral Science.  Dr. Rush served as a mentor to undergraduates that complete independent research courses in this laboratory (N=2), graduate students (N = 2) and post-doctoral fellows (N = 1). Dr. Rush served on the committee of at least four graduate students.  Dr. Rush also gave several lectures during 2008. Dr. Rush also taught his bi-annual graduate seminar (BSC 788) entitled “Drug Abuse: Contemporary Theories and Issues”. During 2008, Dr. Rush provided service to the University of Kentucky by serving on the Institutional Review Board. Dr. Rush continues to serve as a vice-chair of one of the six medical IRB committees. Dr. Rush also served on four other committees during 2008 (NIDA Training Grant Selection Committee; Behavioral Science Self-Evaluation Committee; and Behavioral Science Faculty Search Committee). Dr. Rush is currently a member of two editorial boards and provides review services to approximately 12 scientific journals. Dr. Rush is a regular member of the Medication Development Research Subcommittee (NIDA-L) (National Institutes of Health [NIH]).  Dr. Rush is currently running for a position on the Board of Directors for the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD), the major society for drug abuse researchers.

Stimulant Abuse Pharmacotherapy: Novel Antipsychotics (R01 DA017711). National Institute on Drug Abuse (08/01/05 - 04/30/10).

Agonist Replacement Therapy for Cocaine Dependence: Identifying Novel Medications (R01 DA021155).  National Institute on Drug Abuse (06/01/06 - 03/31/10).

GABAA Modulation as a Target for Developing Medications for Methamphetamine Abuse (R01 DA025591).  National Institute on Drug Abuse (09/15/08 - 09/15/12).

Agonist Replacement Therapy for Methamphetamine Dependence: Human Lab Studies (R01 DA025032).  National Institute on Drug Abuse (01/01/2009 – 12/31/2013).

Representative Publications

Vansickel, A.R., Stoops, W.W., Glaser, P.E.A., and Rush, C.R. (2007). A pharmacological analysis of stimulant-induced increases in smoking. Psychopharmacology, 193: 305-313.

Stoops WW, Lile JA, Lofwall MR, Rush CR (2007). The safety, tolerability, and subject-rated effects of acute intranasal cocaine administration during aripiprazole maintenance. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 33: 769-776.

Stoops WW, Blackburn JW, Hudson DA, Hays LR, Rush CR (2008). Safety, tolerability and subject-rated effects of intranasal cocaine during atomoxetine maintenance. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 92: 282-285.

Vansickel AR, Fillmore MT, Hays LR, Rush CR (2008). Effects of potential agonist-replacement therapies for stimulant dependence on inhibitory control in cocaine abusers. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 34: 293-305.

Stoops WW, Vansickel AR, Glaser PEA, Rush CR (2008). The influence of acute varenicline administration on eating and smoking behavior in humans. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 91: 165-169.

Lile JA, Stoops WW, Hays LR, Rush CR (2008). The safety tolerability and subject-rated effects of acute intranasal cocaine administration during aripiprazole maintenance II: Increased aripiprazole dose and maintenance period. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 34: 721-729.

Rush CR, Stoops WW, Hays LR (2009). Cocaine effects during d-amphetamine maintenance: A human laboratory analysis of safety, tolerability and efficacy. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 99: 261-271.

Sevak RJ, Stoops WW, Hays LR, Rush CR (2009). Discriminative-stimulus and subject-rated effects of methamphetamine, d-amphetamine, methylphenidate and triazolam in methamphetamine-trained humans Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 328: 1007–1018.

Vansickel AR, Poole MM, Stoops WW, Hays KE, Upchurch MB, Glaser PEA, Rush CR (2009). Stimulant-Induced Changes in Smoking and Caloric Intake: Influence of Rate of Onset. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 92: 597-602.

Laboratory of Human Behavioral Pharmacology