December 04, 2024, Chris Horn
Alessandra Porcu and Chase Francis, faculty members at the University of South Carolina's College of Pharmacy, are conducting groundbreaking research aimed at developing new therapies for depression, stress, and anxiety. Their work, supported by a developmental research grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, explores how circadian rhythms and brain regions like the nucleus accumbens affect mental health. Porcu's research focuses on how blue light exposure, particularly from screen devices, disrupts the adolescent brain, while Francis investigates how circadian rhythm-driven changes in the nucleus accumbens contribute to mood disorders. Together, their findings could lead to new treatments that address the underlying causes of these conditions.
Topics: Students, Faculty, Academics, Research, Health Sciences, College of Pharmacy