Dr. Judith Grisel of Psychology

"It's a great time to be a psychologist," according to Furman psychology professor Judith Grisel.

The enthusiasm Grisel has for her work compares to that of an award-winning journalist who reports on world events. The difference is that her specialty is neuroscience, and her world is the science laboratory.

Grisel joined the faculty of Furman's Department of Psychology in 1997. Quickly recognized as a pacesetter, in 2000 she was the university's first professor selected to the Herman N. Hipp University Professorship, a three-year appointment endowed by the family of the late Greenville businessman Herman N. Hipp. Open to faculty in all academic departments, the professorship supports a junior faculty member of extraordinary promise.

According to Grisel, the world of science has changed its focus from when she first entered the profession. At one time cloning genes was cutting edge, but research has broadened, and questions have evolved into - How does behavior work? Or, in her words, "What are the neural substrates of behavior?"

With a specialization in behavioral neuroscience, Grisel's main research interest is in morphine-like compounds called opioid peptides, and their relation to drug addiction.

Grisel hopes that the research she conducts at Furman will help clarify the neural mechanisms that contribute to an individual's propensity toward alcoholism and substance abuse, eventually leading to a better understanding of addiction and improved treatments.

Research, fundamental to scientific advances, has proven to be her forte. Her talents have led to opportunities for independent and collaborative research, and include projects funded by pharmaceutical companies and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

She will be in charge of a research study on "Ethanol Sensitivity in Beta-Endorphin Deficient Mice," recently funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The study will involve mice with no beta-endorphin, low levels of beta-endorphin, and normal levels of beta-endorphin. Beta-endorphin, a member of the broad class of opiate-like brain chemicals, contributes to producing a relaxed, happy feeling, and it is thought to contribute to alcohol's subjective effects.

Another area of her research involves mapping genes that contribute to drug sensitivity. An article on recent findings, titled "Genetic Influences on Alcohol Metabolism," will be highlighted in the May issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research (ACER). It will also be published on a website maintained by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), http://www.eurekalert.org, which circulates breaking news stories.

Through a grant funded by Furman, and in collaboration with a former student, Grisel tested the effects of an opiate blocking drug on individuals in South Carolina gambling houses. The results suggested that endorphins might also be involved in gambling behavior.

"Modulation of Opiate Tolerance Dependence" was a research project funded by a grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA). The focus was a peptide called Orphanin FQ and its ability to block the effects of morphine. OFQ was found to regulate, or to decrease, the effects of morphine in mice. For both addicts and pain patients, these studies may help to understand the deleterious effects of long-term opiate use.

One of Grisel's recent projects involved studying the effect of gonadal hormones on Dextromethorphan mediated enhancement of morphine analgesia. Findings helped provide evidence for sex specific effects of pain medication. These studies, in combination with a growing body of research, may eventually lead to different analgesic medications for men and women.

As an instructor, she dedicates a large portion of her time to encouraging future scientists. Research on the horizon may include a collaborative venture with the University of South Carolina (USC) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). The universities would have the opportunity to exchange students during summers, thus allowing them to conduct research outside their home institutions. Grisel, who has had the opportunity to conduct research with scientists around the world, said, "Collaboration is the key to fun science. The best science is ultimately a group endeavor and not a competition."

Grisel is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, which recently had its annual conference in California with over 28,000 participants. Grisel sought the aid of Charles Brock, assistant dean of Academic Affairs at Furman, and was able to fund a number of students to attend the event. Grisel said, "The benefits are tremendous, and we returned with many new ideas for research. Everything would take much longer without contact with other professionals."

According to Grisel, student involvement in her research projects has been made possible by the support of Furman Advantage, a comprehensive program whereby students gain invaluable experience in the methods of original research while working with a professor.

Furman is a perfect fit for Grisel in her desire to work as a teacher and researcher, and she said this a rare opportunity. "That's why I'm so happy at Furman. I love doing research with students -- collecting data is one of the greatest things in the world."

Grisel earned a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience/Psychology, along with a Teaching Certificate, at the University of Colorado. She had post-doctoral training at Portland Alcohol Research Center, before working as a visiting assistant professor in the Psychology Department at Reed College in Portland.

In addition to her work at Furman, she is science editor for Recovery Road, a nationally syndicated radio show out of Portland, Oregon. In the community, she has worked as a liaison for the National Science Foundation (NSF) program's Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, to promote interest and support for young women in science-related careers. She was appointed to the advisory board of the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation (Recovery, Education, Action Career Help), a non-profit public benefit corporation dedicated to providing grants for the treatment and education of drug addiction, and she is a member of the board of directors for Rosewood House of Recovery, a women's drug treatment center in the Upstate.

Grisel has authored and co-authored articles published in numerous journals, including Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Brain Research, British Journal of Pharmacology, Journal of Neuroscience, European Journal of Pharmacology, NeuroReport, Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology.

Her professional affiliations include the Association for Women in Science, International Brain Research Organization, National Council for Undergraduate Research, New York Academy of Science, Society for Neuroscience, and the South Eastern Psychological Association.

At Furman, Grisel teaches General Psychology, Biopsychology, Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology.