Yasmin Alkhlaif is the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for the June 2023 issue. Ms. Alkhlaif is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her mentor is Dr. Keith Shelton. The JPET article that earned her the honor of being selected as Highlighted Trainee Author is titled: “Assessment of Abuse-Related Discriminative Stimulus Effects of Nicotine Aerosol in Rodents” and is available at: https://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/early/2023/03/14/jpet.122.001520.
Ms. Alkhlaif’s research focuses on understating the discriminative stimulus effects of e-cigarette aerosols as well as the role of menthol in the abuse-related effects of e-cigarettes. Furthermore, she assessed the impact of chemotherapy on nicotine dependence in a mouse model. Ms. Alkhlaif is also interested in assessing novel therapies for nicotine withdrawal and reward effects and has explored new therapies to alleviate chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice.
Her research has successfully introduced a novel animal model of drug discrimination to study the abuse-related effects of e-cigarettes. She was able to address for the first time several questions that have implications for FDA regulations, including puffing and device parameters that impact nicotine delivery to vapers; the main pharmacological origin of the discriminative stimulus of inhaled nicotine; the role of olfactory/ sensory components in e-cig aerosol use; and demonstrating the role of menthol in the abuse-related effects of nicotine. All these aspects are important and timely topics for clinicians, researchers, and regulators in the field.
The anticipated impact of Ms. Alkhlaif’s current research is that itcan benefit regulatory agencies and clinicians in determining the potential of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. Her work has also contributed to the understanding of the role of menthol in e-cig use.
Outside the lab, Yasmin enjoys bodybuilding, traveling, cooking, and skiing. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends.