The Varodayan Lab

Current Funding 

P50 Main Project 4, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism. The goal of this Center grant is to examine the influence of early developmental alcohol exposure on behavioral and brain function, emphasizing age-related differences in alcohol sensitivity/exposure.

R21, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism. The goal of this project is to investigate how IL-1β regulates adult cortical synapses in early withdrawal and protracted abstinence, and whether its dysfunction mediates alcohol-induced cognitive impairment. 

Health Sciences TAE Award, Binghamton University. The goal of this project is to reveal how neuron navigator 1 (Nav1) regulates dopamine circuits and potentially identify novel therapeutic targets for substance use disorders.

Completed Funding 

Health Sciences TAE Award, Binghamton University. The goal of this project is to  develop an interdisciplinary platform for studying IL-1β mechanisms in stress-induced alcohol drinking

DEARC Pilot Project, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism. The goal of this project is to investigate the long-lasting impact of adolescent alcohol exposure on cognitive function and clarify the underlying IL-1 signaling mechanisms

R00 Pathway to Independence Award, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism. The goal of this project is to investigate how alcohol dependence induces noradrenergic neuroadaptations that dysregulate infralimbic control of the central amygdala, and whether this circuit mediates withdrawal-induced alcohol drinking and anxiety-like behavior.

Selected Awards and Honors 

Symposium Chair, Research Society on Alcoholism Annual Meeting, Bellevue (2023)

Young Investigator Award, International Congress on Alcoholism & Stress in Volterra, Italy (2020)

Young Investigator Travel Award, Winter Conference on Brain Research (2019)

Symposium Chair, Winter Conference on Brain Research, Snowmass, CO (2019)

Hot Topic Talk, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Meeting (2018)

Symposium Chair, Research Society on Alcoholism Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA (2018)

Harry June ACNP Travel Award, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2017)

Young Investigator Award, Association of Alcohol Researchers of Indian Origin (2017)

Enoch Gordis Research Recognition Award Finalist, Research Society on Alcoholism (2016)

Symposium Chair, Research Society on Alcoholism Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX (2015)

Third International Congress on Alcoholism and Stress Travel Award, Volterra, Italy (2014)