Alcohol Research at Stritch School of Medicine

How does heavy drinking of alcohol hinder our body's ability to recover from burns or trauma?  Why does alcohol abuse damage our bones?  Can teen binge drinking increase our chance for a mood disorder later in life?  These are the kinds of questions being studied by the Alcohol Research Program (ARP) at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

This internationally diverse program, now under the leadership of Dr. Mashkoor A. Choudhry, investigates the effects of alcohol on a variety of organ systems.

With 50 people involved in the program, including faculty, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and technicians, our program is positioned to provide students with top-notch training.  Many of our trainees have graduated to outstanding research and academic faculty positions.

The program is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and a number of other external funding resources.  The focus is on research, education and prevention.

Research

Members of ARP conduct research of the molecular, cellular and physiological responses to acute, binge, and chronic alcohol exposure.  Studies center on endocrine, gastrointestinal, immune, nervous, and skeletal systems.

Education

Both pre- and post-doctoral training are integral parts of the ARP. Pre-doctoral trainees will be from one of our degree granting programs.  Training is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism titled Training in Neuroimmunoendocrine Effects of Alcohol.