Rémi Martin-Fardon, Ph.D

Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine

Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA

Dr. Martin-Fardon has been working in preclinical drug abuse research since his Ph.D. training in France at Université Montpellier 2 Sciences et Techniques (1992-1996), where his work focused on characterizing the neurochemical effects of phencyclidine (PCP) derivatives (N-[1-(2-benzo(b)thiophenyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine [BTCP]).

In 1997, following a postdoctoral position at Institut de Recherche Jouveinal (Parke Davis, France, 1996-1997), Dr. Martin-Fardon joined The Scripps Research Institute as a postdoctoral fellow (1997-2002) under Dr. Friedbert Weiss (Department of Neuropharmacology) to extend his training on behavioral assays. During this period, he demonstrated that these PCP derivatives have long-lasting behavioral and neurochemical actions, identifying them as potential agonist therapy agents for cocaine abuse.

Since then, Dr. Martin-Fardon’s work has focused on identifying the neural substrates of the distinctly compulsive nature of drug seeking compared with behavior that is motivated by natural rewards. The use of animal models of relapse (i.e., stress and drug-related cues) permitted the identification of lead targets, such as the sigma 1 receptor, metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu2/3 and mGlu5), and orexin (hypocretin) receptors, that are particularly affected following drug dependence.