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William Christopher Wetsel

Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences
Box 103203 Med Ctr, Durham, NC 27710
354 Sands Bldg, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


RESEARCH INTERESTS
Last Updated: 27 October 2020

My laboratory uses genetically-modified mice to study the roles that certain genes and gene products play in the presentation of abnormal neuroendocrine, neurological, and psychiatric responses. Traditionally, the identification of neuroendocrine dysfunction has involved biochemical analyses of hormonal responses, those for neurological disorders have relied upon behavioral and postmortem analyses, and those for psychiatric conditions have depended upon phenomenology.  The use of genetic technologies has allowed specific genes in selected cells and in neural pathways to be related to certain molecular, biochemical, cellular, physiological, and behavioral dysfunctions. As the Director of the Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility at Duke University (http://sites.duke.edu/mousebehavioralcore/), we have phenotyped many different lines of inbred and mutant mice for my own work as well as for investigators at Duke and at other research institutions. As a consequence, we have helped to develop many different mouse genetic models of neuroendocrine and neuropsychiatric illness. We are working also with academic medicinal chemists and/or certain pharmacological/biotechnological companies to identify novel compounds that will ameliorate abnormal responses in various mutant mouse models. Some of these preclinical studies have formed a basis for clinical trials in humans.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2024 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor in Neurobiology · 2007 - Present Neurobiology, Basic Science Departments
Assistant Research Professor in Cell Biology · 2009 - Present Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences · 2012 - Present Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published October 26, 2023
Duke Researchers Probe the Magic of Psychedelics as Medicine
Published September 6, 2023
How Duke Researchers Defend the Brain

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Recent Publications


Arrestin-biased allosteric modulator of neurotensin receptor 1 alleviates acute and chronic pain.

Journal Article Cell · May 15, 2025 G-protein-biased agonists have been shown to enhance opioid analgesia by circumventing β-arrestin-2 (βarr2) signaling. We previously reported that SBI-553, a neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1)-positive allosteric modulator biased toward βarr2 signaling, attenu ... Full text Link to item Cite

Two doses of Qβ virus like particle vaccines elicit protective antibodies against heroin and fentanyl.

Journal Article NPJ Vaccines · March 28, 2025 Opioid overdoses and opioid use disorder (OUD) are major public health concerns. Current treatment approaches for OUD have failed to slow the growth of the opioid crisis. Opioid vaccines have shown pre-clinical success in targeting multiple different opioi ... Full text Link to item Cite

Combination of Haloperidol With UNC9994, β-arrestin-Biased Analog of Aripiprazole, Ameliorates Schizophrenia-Related Phenotypes Induced by NMDAR Deficit in Mice.

Journal Article Int J Neuropsychopharmacol · December 1, 2024 BACKGROUND: Glutamatergic system dysfunction contributes to a full spectrum of schizophrenia-like symptoms, including the cognitive and negative symptoms that are resistant to treatment with antipsychotic drugs (APDs). Aripiprazole, an atypical APD, acts a ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Impact of hypertension and aging on postoperative delirium

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030

Duke-NCCU Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Training Program in Child Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Conditions Program (DN-IPT)

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

IL-6 Trans-signaling increases vulnerability to Postoperative Cognitive Decline in Aging and Alzheimers Disease

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by University of California - San Francisco · 2024 - 2029

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Education, Training & Certifications


Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 1983 Ph.D.