Biosketch and Research Interests
Alexis Hammond, is a fellow in the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance Medical Scientist Training Program who joined the Conn laboratory in 2006. She has conducted research in neuroscience since her undergraduate years, and has gained experience in behavioral, surgical, molecular and implantation techniques. Her current thesis work is focusing on characterizing positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). These compounds have potential as therapy for schizophrenia and other disorders which cause cognitive deficits. Alexis uses in vitro assays to determine the potency and efficacy of these novel compounds, and also investigates their binding to mGluR5. She is particularly interested in investigating the efficacy of mGluR5 PAMs in behavioral assays that predict antipsychotic and cognitive-enhancing activity.

Selected Publications                      
Toufexis, D., Davis, C., Hammond, A. & Davis, M. (2004). Progesterone attenuates corticotropin-releasing factor-enhanced, but not fear-potentiated startle, via the activity of its neuroactive metabolite, allopregnalone. Journal of Neuroscience, 24(45). 10280 – 10287.

Toufexis, D., Davis, C., Hammond, A. & Davis, M. (2005). Sex differences in hormonal modulation of anxiety measured with light-enhanced startle: possible role for arginine vasopressin in the male. Journal of Neuroscience, 25(39). 9010 - 9016.