The Department of Psychiatry Research Clinic seeks new ways to treat and prevent mental illness through efficient and safe research.

• Self-contained clinic with certified laboratory
• Easy access and parking for clinical research participants
• Children's Center partnership and psychological testing support
• Board Certified Physician Investigators
• Two Clinical Research Coordinators 
• One Administrative Assistant III 

The Psychopharmacology Research Clinic believes that a wide-ranging population with unique needs can benefit from the study of mental health issues, including novel medications and behavioral interventions. With a focus on the patient, the staff is dedicated to understanding the basis of mental illnesses through compassionate care and precision analysis using various investigational tools. 

Contact: 
Stephanie Lafitte Saunders, MA, CCRC
(318) 429-2160
Email: stephanie.saunders@lsuhs.edu

The Department of Psychiatry has basic research programs in several different areas. There is a major emphasis on understanding the full biological activity of antipsychotic drugs. This includes the induction of weight gain and diabetes by second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics, and the enhancement of neurite outgrowth and cell viability by atypical drugs such as olanzapine and clozapine. Novel mechanisms of drug action are being investigated at the molecular and cellular levels. We have identified important kinase signaling pathways (Akt and ERK) that are impacted by the atypical drugs. In addition, the department has an active research program focused on the use of model organisms, specifically the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, to study the effects of antipsychotic drugs on lipid metabolism and neuronal development. This work has led to significant new observations linking the drugs to calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II signaling, serotonin production, and behavioral adaptation. The department is also active in drug discovery research with the goal of producing the next generation of antipsychotic drugs. This effort includes biological screening of chemical libraries, molecular modeling, and the design of novel lead compounds. Various faculty, residents, graduate students, and research associates have contributed to this work over the years. Exciting research opportunities are available for residents, especially in the third and fourth years of the residency program.