About

Dr. Sade Spencer is an Associate Professor and Primary Investigator originally from Grand Prairie, TX. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Her thesis research was conducted in the lab of Dr. Colleen McClung at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where she focused on circadian rhythms and affective disorders, specifically investigating how the transcription factor CLOCK regulates dopamine transmission. During her postdoctoral training in the lab of Dr. Peter Kalivas at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. Spencer developed innovative animal models to study neuroplasticity and behavior across various stages of addiction and relapse. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys running and cooking.

Research topics

• Psychology
• Political Science
• Medicine
• Clinical psychology
• Psychiatry
• Medical education
• Pedagogy
• Developmental psychology
• Gerontology
• Internal medicine
• Social psychology
• Public relations
• Endocrinology

Selected publications

• Therapeutic effects of metformin on cocaine conditioned place preference and locomotion.

  Behavioral Neuroscience · 2025-02-27 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  = 82) Sprague Dawley rats were conditioned in a 7-day (abbreviated: 2 × 30 min sessions daily) or a 12-day timeline (standard: 1 × 30 min sessions daily) alternating control and treatment sessions using an unbiased design. Metformin (175 mg/kg) or saline pretreatment occurred 30 min before conditioning with cocaine (20 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline). Data showed sex differences in physiological responses to cocaine and metformin, as well as variant behavioral patterns with different conditioning paradigms. Metformin pretreatment impaired acquisition of cocaine CPP in abbreviated, but not standard conditioning among male rats only. Cocaine-induced locomotor effects are moderated with metformin pretreatment in both female and male rats in different phases of conditioning, suggesting the potential therapeutic value of symptom alleviation when tapering patients off cocaine use with the goal of abstinence. Sex differences observed highlight the importance in better understanding the unique pharmacological profiles of female and male patients. This study provides evidence supporting the potential repurposing of metformin for disrupting rewarding and psychomotor effects of cocaine, paving the way for safe, low-cost, and accessible treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

  PublisherDOI

• cFOS expression following rimonabant precipitated withdrawal from WIN 55212-2 in the rat brain

  Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics · 2024-05-13

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Somatic and anxiety-like behaviors in male and female rats during withdrawal from the non-selective cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212–2

  Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior · 2024-01-18 · 5 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Effects of metformin on binge‐like ethanol drinking and adenosine monophosphate kinase signaling in inbred high drinking in the dark line 1 mice

  Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research · 2024-11-26

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling plays a vital role in regulating cellular metabolism and energy throughout the body. Ethanol and cocaine both reduce AMPK activity in addiction-related brain regions. Though AMPK activation has been found to reduce cocaine seeking, its role in harmful drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD) progression remains unclear. We asked whether metformin, a first-line type 2 diabetes medication that targets AMPK, can reduce binge-like ethanol intake in inbred High Drinking in the Dark Line-1 (iHDID-1) mice, a genetic risk model for drinking to intoxication. We then determined whether metformin altered ethanol clearance in iHDID-1 mice. Next, we tested whether metformin and/or ethanol altered AMPK signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain region critically important for harmful drinking. METHODS: We measured the effects of metformin [0 or 250 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injection (i.p.)] on binge-like ethanol intake in separate acute (Experiment 1) and chronic (Experiment 3A) drinking studies (n = 6-8 iHDID-1 mice/sex/treatment/experiment). The effect of metformin (0 or 250 mg/kg) on ethanol (2.0 g/kg, i.p.) clearance was tested in iHDID-1 mice (Experiment 2; n = 7-9/sex/treatment). Lastly, we measured NAc AMPK and phosphorylated AMPK (pAMPK) levels in response to chronic ethanol (or water) drinking (n = 6 iHDID-1 mice/sex/treatment/fluid type; Experiment 3B) and an intoxicating dose of ethanol (2.0 g/kg; i.p.; Experiment 4). RESULTS: Metformin reduced binge-like ethanol drinking intake in acute and chronic studies in both male and female iHDID-1 mice (p's < 0.05). We found no significant changes in ethanol clearance in response to metformin. Moreover, no differences in AMPK or pAMPK levels in the NAc were observed with either ethanol or metformin. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide early support for the repurposing of metformin, an affordable and safe diabetes medication, to reduce harmful ethanol intake and lay a foundation for testing its efficacy to treat individuals with AUD.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Δ⁹‐Tetrahydrocannabinol self‐administration induces cell type‐specific adaptations in the nucleus accumbens core

  Addiction Biology · 2023-07-06 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use initiates similar neuroadaptations is unknown. D1- and D2-Cre transgenic rats were transfected with Cre-dependent reporters and trained to self-administer THC + cannabidiol (THC + CBD). After extinction training spine morphology, glutamate transmission, CB1R function and cFOS expression were quantified. We found that extinction from THC + CBD induced a loss of large spine heads in D1- but not D2-MSNs and commensurate reductions in glutamate synaptic transmission. Also, presynaptic CB1R function was impaired selectively at glutamatergic synapses on D1-MSNs, which augmented the capacity to potentiate glutamate transmission. Using cFOS expression as an activity marker, we found no change after extinction but increased cFOS expression in D1-MSNs after cue-induced drug seeking. Contrasting D1-MSNs, CB1R function and glutamate synaptic transmission on D2-MSN synapses were unaffected by THC + CBD use. However, cFOS expression was decreased in D2-MSNs of THC + CBD-extinguished rats and was restored after drug seeking. Thus, CB1R adaptations in D1-MSNs partially predicted neuronal activity changes, posing pathway specific modulation of eCB signalling in D1-MSNs as a potential treatment avenue for cannabis use disorder (CUD).

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Metformin Prevents Cocaine Sensitization: Involvement of AMPK Trafficking between Subcellular Compartments in the Corticostriatal Reward Circuit

  Preprints.org · 2023-10-26 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  Repeated cocaine produces an enhanced locomotor response (sensitization) paralleled by biological adaptations in the brain. Previous studies demonstrated region-specific responsiv-ity of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to repeated cocaine. AMPK maintains cellular energy homeostasis at the organismal and cellular level. Here we first quanti-fied changes in phosphorylated (active) and total AMPK in the cytosol and synaptosome of the medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and dorsal striatum following acute or sensitizing cocaine injections. Rats were given cocaine (15 mg/kg, IP) or saline for six days with a challenge injection on day seven resulting in four groups: saline-saline, saline-cocaine, cocaine-saline, and cocaine-cocaine. Brain region and cellular compartment selective changes in AMPK and pAMPK were found with some differences associated with acute withdrawal versus ongoing cocaine treatment. Other rats were pretreated with the indirect AMPK activator metformin. Metformin potentiated the locomotor activating effects of acute cocaine but blocked the development of sensi-tization. Sex differences largely obscured protein level treatment group effects, although pAMPK in the NAc shell cytosol was surprisingly reduced by metformin in rats receiving repeated co-caine. These data inform our understanding of AMPK activation dynamics in subcellular com-partments and provide additional support for repurposing metformin for cocaine use disorder.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Intersectionality and COVID-19: Academic Medicine Faculty's Lived Experiences of Well-Being, Workload, and Productivity During the Pandemic

  Journal of Women s Health · 2023-11-06 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Purpose: The aim of this study was to utilize an intersectional framework to examine academic faculty's lived experiences during COVID-19. Specifically, we set out to: (1) describe the multiple intersectional identities (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, rank, caregiver status, disability status) represented by the faculty, (2) examine potential disparities in well-being, workload, and productivity linked to these intersectional factors, and (3) identify qualitative themes endorsed by faculty as they relate to lived experiences during COVID-19. Methods: This was a cross-sectional mixed-methods research study. The Center for Women in Medicine and Science (CWIMS) at the University of Minnesota developed and implemented a survey between February–June of 2021 in response to national reports of disparities in the impacts of COVID-19 on faculty with lived experiences from multiple intersections. Results: There were 291 full-time faculty who participated in the study. Quantitative findings indicated that faculty with multiple intersectional identities (e.g., woman+assistant professor+caregiver+underrepresented in medicine) reported greater depression symptoms, work/family conflict, and stress in contrast to faculty with fewer intersectional identities. Furthermore, faculty with more intersectional identities reported higher clinical workloads and service responsibilities and lower productivity with regard to research article submissions, publications, and grant submissions in contrast to faculty with fewer intersectional identities. Qualitative findings supported quantitative findings and broadened understanding of potential underlying reasons. Conclusions: Findings confirm anecdotal evidence that faculty with lived experiences from multiple intersections may be disproportionately experiencing negative outcomes from the pandemic. These findings can inform decisions about how to address these disparities moving into the next several years with regard to promotion and tenure, burnout and well-being, and faculty retention in academic medical settings. Given these findings, it is also important to intentionally plan responses for future public health crises to prevent continued disparities for faculty with multiple intersectional identities.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Academic clinician frontline-worker wellbeing and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic experience: Were there gender differences?

  Preventive Medicine Reports · 2023 · 11 citations

  • Political Science
  • Medicine
  • Psychology

  Prior research suggests COVID-19 has amplified stress on Academic Clinician Frontline-Workers (ACFW). The aim of this paper is: (1) to better understand the experiences of ACFW during the COVID-19 pandemic including their mental-emotional wellbeing, academic productivity, clinical experiences, and (2) to examine any gender differences. A cross-sectional survey was administered to University of Minnesota/M Health Fairview systems' faculty February-June 2021. Of the 291 respondents, 156 were clinicians, with 91 (58 %) identifying as Frontline-Workers (ACFW). Faculty wellbeing was assessed using validated measures in addition to measures of productivity and sociodemographics. For example, ACFW reported a higher Work-Family Conflict (WFC) scores compared to non-ACFW (26.5 vs. 24.1, p = 0.057) but did not report higher Family-Work Conflict (FWC) scores (17.7 vs. 16.3, p = 0.302). Gender sub-analyses, revealed that women ACFW compared to men ACFW reported higher WFC scores (27.7 vs. 24.1, p = 0.021) and FWC (19.3 vs. 14.3, p = 0.004). Academically, ACFW reported submitting fewer grants and anticipated delays in promotion and tenure due to the COVID-19 (p = 0.035). Results suggest COVID-19 has exacerbated ACFW stress and gender inequities. Reports of anticipated delay in promotion for ACFW may pose a challenge for the long-term academic success of ACFW, especially women ACFW. In addition, women may experience higher FWC and WFC as compared to men. Schools of academic medicine should consider re-evaluating promotion/tenure processes and creating resources to support women ACFW as well as ACFW caregivers.

  PublisherDOI

• Somatic and Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Male and Female Rats During Withdrawal from the Non-Selective Cannabinoid Agonist Win 55,212-2

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2023-01-01 · 2 citations

  preprintOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Metformin Prevents Cocaine Sensitization: Involvement of Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase Trafficking between Subcellular Compartments in the Corticostriatal Reward Circuit

  International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2023-11-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Repeated cocaine exposure produces an enhanced locomotor response (sensitization) paralleled by biological adaptations in the brain. Previous studies demonstrated region-specific responsivity of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to repeated cocaine exposure. AMPK maintains cellular energy homeostasis at the organismal and cellular levels. Here, our objective was to quantify changes in phosphorylated (active) and total AMPK in the cytosol and synaptosome of the medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and dorsal striatum following acute or sensitizing cocaine injections. Brain region and cellular compartment selective changes in AMPK and pAMPK were found with some differences associated with acute withdrawal versus ongoing cocaine treatment. Our additional goal was to determine the behavioral and molecular effects of pretreatment with the indirect AMPK activator metformin. Metformin potentiated the locomotor activating effects of acute cocaine but blocked the development of sensitization. Sex differences largely obscured any protein-level treatment group effects, although pAMPK in the NAc shell cytosol was surprisingly reduced by metformin in rats receiving repeated cocaine. The rationale for these studies was to inform our understanding of AMPK activation dynamics in subcellular compartments and provide additional support for repurposing metformin for treating cocaine use disorder.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• The Role of Dopamine in Modulating Relapse-induced Transient Synaptic Plasticity

  NIH · $267k · 2016–2018

• The role of dopamine in modulating relapse-induced transient synaptic plasticity

  NIH · $755k · 2018–2021

• NIH Grant F32DA037722

  NIH · $106k · 2016

• NIH Grant F31MH090683

  NIH · $52k · 2013

Frequent coauthors

• Peter W. Kalivas

  Medical University of South Carolina

  39 shared

• Colleen A. McClung

  University of Pittsburgh

  34 shared

• Cassandra D. Gipson

  University of Kentucky

  25 shared

• Yonatan M. Kupchik

  Hebrew University of Jerusalem

  23 shared

• Jasper A. Heinsbroek

  University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

  22 shared

• Michael D. Scofield

  Medical University of South Carolina

  21 shared

• Douglas Roberts-Wolfe

  University of Pennsylvania

  19 shared

• Alexander C.W. Smith

  Medical University of South Carolina

  19 shared

Labs

• The Spencer Lab @ UMNPI

Education

• Ph.D., Neuroscience

  University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

  2012

• B.S., Biology

  University of Alabama

  2006