Joyonna (Joy) Gamble-George, Ph.D., received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Biology with Honors in Mathematics from Xavier University of Louisiana and her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. She is a NIDA T32 postdoctoral fellow in the Behavioral Sciences Training (BST) in Drug Abuse Research program at New York University Meyers College of Nursing. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Florida McKnight Brain Institute, where her research focused on the effects of methamphetamine on bidirectional neuron-microglia communication in the human brain and animal models of HIV-1 infection and was awarded funding from NIDA. Her dissertation work on endocannabinoid signaling in affective disorder pathology was supported by NIMH, Southern Regional Education Board, United Negro College Fund, and the MERCK Foundation. Her other research efforts concerned the molecular and synaptic consequences of drug abuse and addiction and PTSD in animal models. Her current research focuses on the biopsychosocial factors, including social support, capital, cohesion, and connectedness, that contribute to substance use, misuse, and addiction, mental health problems, and HIV/HCV risk behaviors in adolescents and adults using qualitative and quantitative surveys, brain structural and functional connectivity methods, and integrated analyses of genetic, epigenetic, and gene expression variation. In the DAN Lab, Dr. Gamble-George extends her research program to examine changes in volumetric brain composition because of gene variants linked to affective pathologies and early life adversity in adopted children followed into adulthood.
Post-Doctoral Scientist