Faculty

Colleen A McClung, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science

Contact Details

450 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh
 
PA
 
15219
Phone 412-624-5547
Email
Website
The McClung Lab
Assistant
Margaret Carter
cartermp@upmc.edu

Education & Training

PhD
University of Virginia, College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Biology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterNeuroscience

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
Member, Society for Neuroscience
Member, Society for Research on Biological Rhythms
Member, Molecular Psychiatry Association

Selected Honors & Awards

NARSAD Independent Investigator Award, Brain & Behavioral Research Foundation
Rising Star Award, International Mental Health Research Organization
Neuroscience of Brain Disorders Award, McKnight Foundation

Research Interests

Circadian rhythms; Mood disorders; Drug addiction
Selected Research Publications & Products
  1. Parekh, P.K., Becker-Krail, D., Sundaravelu, P., Ishigaki, S., Okado, H., Sobue, G., Huang, Y., and McClung, C.A. (2017) Altered GluA1 function and accumbal synaptic plasticity in the Clockdelta19 model of bipolar mania. Biological Psychiatry, in press
  2. Chen, C.Y., Logan, R.W., Tianzhou, M., Lewis, D.A., Tseng, G.C., Sibille, E., and McClung, C.A. (2016) The effects of aging on circadian patterns of gene expression in the human prefrontal cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci, USA, 113:206-11.
  3. Sidor, M.M., Spencer, S., Dzirasa, K., Parekh, P.K., Tye, K.M., Warden, M.R., Arey, R.N., Enwright III, J.F., Jacobsen, J.P.R., Kumar, S., Remillard, E.M., Caron, M.G., Deisseroth, K., and McClung, C.A. (2015) Daytime spikes in dopaminergic activity underlie rapid mood-cycling. Molecular Psychiatry, 20:1479-80.
  4. Ozburn, A.R., Falcon, E., Twaddle, A., Nugent, A.L., Gillman, A.G., Spencer, S.M., Arey, R.N., Mukherjee, S., Lyons-Weiler, J., Self, D.W., and McClung, C.A. (2014) Direct regulation of diurnal Drd3 expression and cocaine reward by NPAS2. Biological Psychiatry 77:425-33. *Selected as a priority communication.
  5. Arey, R., Enwright III, J.F., Spencer, S., Falcon, E., Ozburn, A.R., and McClung, C.A. (2013) An important role for Cholecystokinin, a CLOCK target gene, in the development and treatment of manic-like behaviors. Molecular Psychiatry, 19: 342-350.

Clinical Interests

Psychiatric disorders

Education Interests

Training graduate students; Training undergraduate students

Department Faculty Highlight the Role of Adolescent Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Disruptions in Risk of Substance Use Disorders 

Logan et al Biological Psychiatry 2018

Sleep and circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycles of the body’s physiological processes, are important components of health. Likewise, disruptions in these systems are linked to a number of health conditions, including substance abuse. The developmental changes in sleep and circadian rhythms that occur during adolescence leave teenagers particularly vulnerable to addiction. A review recently published in the journal...

Translational Neuroscience Program Faculty Show Circadian Rhythms Regulate Reward through Metabolic Signaling in the Brain

Circadian rhythms are near 24-hour oscillations controlling many aspects of physiology and behavior. The coordination and orchestration of these rhythms maintain homeostasis throughout the body. Evidence from humans suggests disruptions to circadian rhythms and sleep are linked to several psychiatric disorders, including substance use and abuse disorders. Indeed, several human and animal studies have demonstrated...

Department of Psychiatry Celebrates Scientific Discovery and Staff and Faculty Contributions at 18th Annual Research Day

The Department of Psychiatry welcomed more than 450 attendees to the 18th Annual Department of Psychiatry Research Day at the University Club on the University of Pittsburgh Oakland campus. The event celebrates the many and diverse research activities of our faculty, trainees, students, and staff. The morning session featured 146 poster presentations representing a wide range of research interests. Faculty experts...

Colleen McClung, PhD Appointed Professor by Pitt School of Medicine

Dr. Colleen McClung

Colleen McClung, PhD is a pioneer in the study of how manipulations of limbic circuitry and circadian genes within this circuitry can lead to the development and treatment of psychiatric diseases. She combines molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral studies, incorporating new technologies, and these cutting-edge research activities have earned her a superb reputation in her field. Dr. McClung has...