Ray Anton, M.D.

Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Scientific Director, Charleston Alcohol Research Center
Director, Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs
Director, Clinical Neurobiology Laboratory (Psychiatry)

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Phone: (843) 792-1226
Fax: (843) 792-1724
Email: antonr@musc.edu

Education:
BA, 1972, Rutgers College; MMS, 1974, Robert Wood Johnson (Rutgers) Medical School; MD, 1976, Robert Wood Johnson (Rutgers) Medical School; Postdoctoral Fellow/Resident Psychiatry, 1976-80, Yale University School of Medicine

Research Interests:
The main focus on my work is on pharmacotherapy and biological markers for alcoholism. This applied clinical research is directed towards discovery of methods to better detect and treat alcoholics. We utilized both chemical and clinical laboratory techniques and procedures as well as functional neuroimaging technology to better define mechanisms of craving and treatment responsiveness to medications. Most recently medications have been undergoing evaluation are the opiate antagonists, naltrexone and nalmefene, the glutamate-modifying medication, acamprosate, and, soon, the serotonin active drug ondansetron. As Scientific Director of the Alcohol Research Center I supervise the overall scientific direction of both basic scientists and clinical projects. These range from alcohol withdrawal mechanisms and treatment to dual diagnosis (psychiatric disorders coexisting with alcoholism), to a clinical bar lab experiment and neuroimaging.

Selected Recent Publications:

Anton, R.F., Lieber, C. and Tabakoff, B. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and gamma-glutamyltransferase for the detection and monitoring of alcohol use: Results from a multisite study. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research 26(8):1215-1222, 2002.

Malcolm, R., Myrick, H., Roberts, J., Wang, W. and Anton, R.F. The differential effects of medication on mood, sleep disturbance, and work ability in outpatient alcohol detoxification. American Journal on Addictions 11(2):141-150, 2002.

Rukstalis, M.R., Lynch, K.G., Oslin, D.W., Pettinati, H.M., Anderson, S.M., Volpicelli, J.R. and Anton, R.F. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin levels reflect heavy drinking in alcohol-dependent women seeking treatment. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research 26(10):1539-1544, 2002.

Allen, J.P. and Anton, R. Biomarkers as aids to identification of relapse in alcoholic patients. Recent Developments in Alcoholism 1625-1638, 2003.

Anton, R.F. and Swift, R.M. Current pharmacotherapies: A U.S. perspective. American Journal on Addictions 12S53-S68, 2003.

Drobes, D.J., Anton, R.F., Thomas, S.E. and Voronin, K. A clinical laboratory paradigm for evaluating medication effects on alcohol consumption: Naltrexone and nalmefene. Neuropsychopharmacology 28(4):755-764, 2003.