Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Kent Vrana has more than 30 years of research experience in molecular neuropharmacology.
Notably, he has been actively involved in the neuroenzymology and molecular neurobiology since he was a graduate student in 1979. Over the years, his laboratory was the first to create a full-length cDNA clone for tyrosine hydroxylase and to characterize the role of catecholamine-derived quinones in neuronal toxicity. He is currently using next-generation sequencing technologies to explore the roles of naturally-occurring sequence variants in the progression and severity of Parkinson’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, he has a long history of studying the proteomics and transcriptomics of substance abuse (alcohol, cocaine and heroin).
Dr. Vrana’s laboratory was part of a team that established a new mechanism for generating embryonic stem cells. He has published widely on stem cell biology and has also patented a method for using nanoliposomal delivery of the bioactive lipid ceramide to maintain human induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells in their undifferentiated state. More recently, he has been investigating the role of synthetic cannabinoids in colon cancer, glioblastoma and neuroblastoma.
From a technical standpoint, Dr. Vrana's laboratory has been instrumental in developing and disseminating tools for analyzing gene and protein expression, as well as characterizing normal and pathological processes.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Biochemistry, PhD, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
… → 1983
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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AI-based Mapping of Complex Cannabis Extracts in Pain Pathways
Vrana, K. (PI) & Dokholyan, N. (CoPI)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
2/14/23 → 11/30/25
Project: Research project
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Multidisciplinary Training in the Biology of Alcohol Addiction
Samson, H. H. (CoPI), McCool, B. A. (PI), Friedman, D. P. (CoPI), Grant, K. A. (CoPI) & Vrana, K. (CoPI)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
7/1/94 → 6/30/25
Project: Research project
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A diagnostic plasma protein panel for alcohol abuse
Vrana, K. (PI)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6/15/14 → 3/31/15
Project: Research project
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Functional Genomics of Cocaine Self-Administration
Vrana, K. (PI) & Vrana, K. E. (CoPI)
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
9/30/00 → 12/31/03
Project: Research project
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D2 KNOCKDOWN AND ETHANOL SELF-ADMINISTRATION
Vrana, K. (PI)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6/1/95 → 5/31/97
Project: Research project
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Better together? Individual and synergistic effects of noneuphorigenic cannabinoids on visceral sensation
Coates, M., Raup-Konsavage, W. M. & Vrana, K. E., Jun 2025, In: Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 392, 6, 103593.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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The Pharmacology of Cannabinoids in Chronic Pain
Cortez-Resendiz, A., Leiter, T. J., Riela, S. M., Graziane, N. M., Raup-Konsavage, W. M. & Vrana, K. E., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids. p. 31-46 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Antinociceptive Effects of Cannabichromene (CBC) in Mice: Insights from von Frey, Tail-Flick, Formalin, and Acetone Tests
Raup-Konsavage, W. M., Sepulveda, D. E., Wang, J., Dokholyan, N. V., Vrana, K. E. & Graziane, N. M., Jan 2024, In: Biomedicines. 12, 1, 83.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access12 Scopus citations -
Cannabidiol-Derived Cannabinoids: The Unregulated Designer Drug Market Following the 2018 Farm Bill
Zawatsky, C. N., Mills-Huffnagle, S., Augusto, C. M., Vrana, K. E. & Nyland, J. E., Feb 13 2024, In: Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids. 7, 1, p. 10-18 9 p., 536339.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
10 Scopus citations -
Cannabinoid-Induced Immunogenic Cell Death of Colorectal Cancer Cells Through De Novo Synthesis of Ceramide Is Partially Mediated by CB2 Receptor
Hengst, J. A., Ruiz-Velasco, V. J., Raup-Konsavage, W. M., Vrana, K. E. & Yun, J., Dec 2024, In: Cancers. 16, 23, 3973.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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Distinguished Educator Award
Craig, T. (Recipient), Sinz, E. (Recipient) & Vrana, K. (Recipient), 2009
Prize
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Scholarship in Education Award
Acharya, V. (Recipient), Foy, A. (Recipient), Vrana, K. (Recipient), Huang, X. (Recipient), Chetlen, A. (Recipient), Dovat, S. (Recipient), Gowda, C. (Recipient), Acharya, J. (Recipient) & Murray, M. (Recipient), 2022
Prize