# Functional, Structural and Epigenetic Modifications of Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons in Alcohol-Dependent Mice

> **NIH NIH K01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2022 · $193,482

## Abstract

This Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) application supports the career development
and additional advanced technical training of Dr. Paula Zamudio-Bulcock to facilitate her transition to an
independent academic investigator in the alcohol research field. She has extensive experience in ex-vivo
slice electrophysiology, and during the mentoring period will gain experience with animal models of alcohol
consumption and dependence. In addition, during the course of the proposed studies she will learn highly
relevant techniques in the addiction research field including super-resolution confocal microscopy and epigenetic
research methods. Importantly, Dr. Zamudio-Bulcock will also use the K01 protected training time to sharpen her
career skills with a strong focus on manuscript preparation and submission, grantsmanship training and
development of mentoring skills. Dr. Zamudio-Bulcock’s training will be supported by a strong institutional
commitment to her career development and an outstanding and multifaceted mentoring team of leaders in
the alcohol research field, each providing expert guidance throughout the progress of the proposed studies.
The research plan evolved from Dr. Zamudio-Bulcock’s long standing interest in alcohol effects on the
cerebellum and her experience studying the effects of acute and developmental alcohol exposures on cerebellar
physiology. Thus, it is clearly distinguishable from the research focus of her mentor’s laboratory. Studies from
the mentor and co-mentors have characterized functional, structural and epigenetic alterations after chronic
alcohol exposure in brain regions implicated in alcohol consumption and dependence. Dr. Zamudio-Bulcock’s
proposal will apply the methodologies used by her mentors to evaluate chronic alcohol–induced alterations in
the cerebellum which, despite being highly sensitive to alcohol, has been understudied in the context of chronic
alcohol use and dependence. The aims in this proposal have been tailored to test the hypothesis that chronic
alcohol exposure leads to functional, structural and epigenetic alterations in the sole output of the cerebellar
cortex, the GABAergic Purkinje cell. Importantly, the cerebellar cortex has been recently found to be a
heterogeneous brain region with marked molecular, functional and structural differences among cerebellar
lobules. Such differences are postulated to support the ample diversity of behavioral functions the cerebellum
provides neuronal computation for. Given the functional connectivity of the posterior cerebellum with higher-
order brain regions known to be affected in alcohol-dependent mice, the effects of chronic alcohol exposure will
be studied in a sub-lobular specific manner with a focus on posterior lobules that are inter-connected with
midbrain and cortical areas involved in reward and decision making. The opportunity to carry out these studies
and engage in comprehensive career development training activities will provide a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10457367
- **Project number:** 5K01AA028059-03
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Paula Andrea Zamudio-Bulcock
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $193,482
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-05 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10457367

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10457367, Functional, Structural and Epigenetic Modifications of Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons in Alcohol-Dependent Mice (5K01AA028059-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10457367. Licensed CC0.

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