Rahul Nachnani is the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for the February 2021 issue. He is a pre-doctoral trainee in biomedical sciences at the College of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University.
His mentor is Dr. Kent Vrana. The JPET article that earned him selection as a Highlighted Trainee Author is titled “The Pharmacological Case for Cannabigerol” and is available at: https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.120.000340
Mr. Nachnani received a degree in human biology at the University of California, San Diego, where he first kindled his fire for neuroscience. His research interests are in translational psychiatry, pharmacology, and transcriptomics.
Mr. Nachnani’s current research goal is understanding more about drugs of abuse to better the design, efficacy, and adherence to potential treatments. His research focuses on the interface of the endogenous cannabinoid system,
orexigenic signaling, and the glucagon-like peptide-1 system using molecular approaches (transcriptomics).
The anticipated impact of Mr. Nachnani’s research is to better understand interactions between drugs of abuse and endogenous neural signaling to then find underlying connections and common therapeutic targets of addiction. This supports his aspirations
to be an evidence-based psychiatric provider for patients suffering from all types of substance use disorders.
When not in the lab, Rahul loves exploring diverse cultures and cuisines. He also loves spending time with friends, family, and his dog.