![](https://i.irp.nih.gov/pi/0010053298.jpg)
Amy Hauck Newman, Ph.D.
Senior Investigator
Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Medicinal Chemistry Section
NIDA
Scientific Director
NIDA
Research Topics
Our research effort is focused on the design and synthesis of novel ligands to study the function of selected G-protein coupled receptors and monoamine transporters in the central nervous system. Highly selective compounds are designed and synthesized for characterization of these molecular targets and to develop structure-activity relationships. In addition, specific tools such as fluorescent and radiolabeled ligands are synthesized for receptor or transporter structure-function studies. My research program is currently studying the dopamine and serotonin transport systems and the dopamine D2 receptor family (D2/D3) through the design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel ligands. The combination of state of the art synthetic organic chemistry techniques with molecular modeling and interpretation of pharmacological data has resulted in the discovery of important molecular probes for studying these neurochemical targets. It is envisioned that, ultimately, this multidisciplinary approach will provide new leads toward the development of potential pharmacotherapeutic agents for the treatment of addiction.
Selected Publications
- Newman AH, Xi ZX, Heidbreder C. Current Perspectives on Selective Dopamine D(3) Receptor Antagonists/Partial Agonists as Pharmacotherapeutics for Opioid and Psychostimulant Use Disorders. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2023;60:157-201.
- Newman AH, Ku T, Jordan CJ, Bonifazi A, Xi ZX. New Drugs, Old Targets: Tweaking the Dopamine System to Treat Psychostimulant Use Disorders. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2021;61:609-628.
- Bonifazi A, Battiti FO, Sanchez J, Zaidi SA, Bow E, Makarova M, Cao J, Shaik AB, Sulima A, Rice KC, Katritch V, Canals M, Lane JR, Newman AH. Novel Dual-Target μ-Opioid Receptor and Dopamine D(3) Receptor Ligands as Potential Nonaddictive Pharmacotherapeutics for Pain Management. J Med Chem. 2021;64(11):7778-7808.
- Newman AH, Cao J, Keighron JD, Jordan CJ, Bi GH, Liang Y, Abramyan AM, Avelar AJ, Tschumi CW, Beckstead MJ, Shi L, Tanda G, Xi ZX. Translating the atypical dopamine uptake inhibitor hypothesis toward therapeutics for treatment of psychostimulant use disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2019;44(8):1435-1444.
- Kumar V, Bonifazi A, Ellenberger MP, Keck TM, Pommier E, Rais R, Slusher BS, Gardner E, You ZB, Xi ZX, Newman AH. Highly Selective Dopamine D3 Receptor (D3R) Antagonists and Partial Agonists Based on Eticlopride and the D3R Crystal Structure: New Leads for Opioid Dependence Treatment. J Med Chem. 2016;59(16):7634-50.
Related Scientific Focus Areas
Social and Behavioral Sciences
View additional Principal Investigators in Social and Behavioral Sciences
This page was last updated on Friday, November 2, 2018