Dr. William (Tripp) C. Griffin, III
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences |
Research Interests Dr. Griffin's research interests broadly include understanding the neurobiological adaptations in the brain that may underlie the urge to drink and the maintenance of alcohol drinking. Areas of active investigation consist of examining the glutamatergic, cholinergic and neuropeptide (CRF) signaling systems in brain regions that regulate alcohol consumption. An emerging area of Dr. Griffin's research is examining the interactive effects of alcohol with methylphenidate (Ritalin) on behavior and various neurotransmitter systems in forebrain areas.
Education | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC | B.S. | 1993 | Biology | | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC | B.S. | 1996 | Pharmacy | | SE Regional Medical Center, Lumberton, NC | Residency | 1997 | Pharmacy | | West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV | Ph.D. | 2001 | Pharmacology | | Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC | Postdoctoral | 2008 | Addiction Biology |
Professional Experience | 1996-1997 | ASHP Pharmacy Practice Resident, Southeastern Regional Medical Center, Lumberton, NC | | 1997-2001 | Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV | | 2001-2005 | Post-Doctoral Fellow, Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, MUSC, Charleston, SC | | 2006-2008 | Post-Doctoral Fellow, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, MUSC, Charleston, SC | | 2008-present | Research Assistant Professor, Center for Drug and Alcohol Problems, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, MUSC, Charleston, SC |
Awards and Honors
| 1992-1996 | University of North Carolina Dean’s List | | 1994 | Summer Research Assistantship, Cancer Education Program, UNC Hospitals | | 1999-2000 | WVU School of Medicine (SoM) Graduate Stipend | | 1999-2001 | West Virginia University (WVU) Doctoral Student Travel Awards | 1999-
present | Member, Society for Neuroscience | | 2000 | International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Travel Award | | 2000 | WVU SoM Academic Achievement Award (Highest GPA) | | 2005 | Research Society on Alcoholism Junior Investigator Award | 2005-
present | Member, Research Society on Alcoholism |
Certifications | 1996-present | NC Registered Pharmacist License #13482 | | 2002-present | SC Registered Pharmacist License #010599 |
Recent Publications Griffin WC, 3rd, Novak AJ, Middaugh LD & Patrick KS. The interactive effects of methylphenidate and ethanol on ethanol consumption and locomotor activity in mice. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior 95(3):267-272, 2010. PMCID: PMC2862580 Bell GH, Novak AJ, Griffin WC, 3rd & Patrick KS. Transdermal and oral dl-methylphenidate-ethanol interactions in C57BL/6J mice: Transesterification to ethylphenidate and elevation of d-methylphenidate concentrations. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 100(7):2966-2978, 2011. Carrara-Nascimento PF, Griffin WC, 3rd, Pastrello DM, Olive MF & Camarini R. Changes in extracellular levels of glutamate in the nucleus accumbens after ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization in adolescent and adult mice. Alcohol 45(5):451-460, 2011. McGovern RW, Middaugh LD, Patrick KS & Griffin WC, 3rd. The discriminative stimulus properties of methylphenidate in C57BL/6J mice. Behavioural Pharmacology 22(1):14-22, 2011. PMCID: PMC3099148 |
