Dr Kelly Clemens | Brain Sciences UNSW

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University role:

Scientia Fellow (Level C)

Phone:

02 9385 8250

Email:

k.clemens@unsw.edu.au

Dr Kelly Clemens is a UNSW Scientia Fellow in the School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, UNSW.

Research Areas

I am interested in why it is so hard to stop taking addictive drugs. Despite knowing that drugs are bad, many people continue their use - they find it extremely difficult to cut down or stop, despite significant health or social consequences.

So what is it about drugs that makes quitting so hard? My research focuses on the changes that occur in the brain following drug use and what the implications are for quitting. We find that what is learned under the influence of drugs of addiction is different. That is, people, places and paraphernalia present when drugs are ingested, take on an exaggerated meaning to the drug user. These cues can maintain drug seeking in the absence of the drug itself, or lead to strong cravings and ultimately relapse.

My research has shown that not only are drugs present at the same time as these cues, but that many drugs of abuse are actually changing the way the brain learns about these cues. Through interacting with DNA itself, many drugs 'switch on' genes that are important for learning. When the user is learning about what predicts or accompanies drug use, this information is stored so much more robustly than normal. Unraveling the epigenetic nature of the interactions between our genes and how they react to drugs of abuse is the current focus of research in my laboratory.

Postgraduate Research Supervision

Caitlin Finney (PhD Candidate)

Teaching

PSYC 3051: Physiological Psychology

Affiliations and Membership

Asia-Pacific Society for Alcohol and Addiction Research (APSAAR)
International Society for Drug Abuse Research (IDARS)
Australian Neuroscience Society (ANS)
Australian Learning Group (ALG)

Awards, Fellowships and Grants

UNSW Scientia Fellowship (2018-current)
Faculty of Science Research Grant (2013, 2017, 2018)
Faculty of Science Visiting Academic Fellowship (2013) Prof. Serge Ahmed
Australain Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) (2012-2015)
Macquarie University Research Fellowship (2010-2012)

Research

Field of Research (FOR) Tag:

Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology)

Neurosciences

Epigenetics (incl. Genome Methylation and Epigenomics)

Socio-economic Objective (SEO) tags:

Expanding Knowledge

Mental Health

Media

LinkedIn:

http://au.linkedin.com/pub/kelly-clemens/37/141/454

Twitter Account:

https://twitter.com/KellyClemens9

Publications related to this Person

Book Chapters

Khoo S; McNally G; Clemens K, 2019, 'The orexin system and nicotine addiction: Preclinical insights', in Preedy VR (ed.), Neuroscience of Nicotine: Mechanisms and treatment, Academic Press, pp. 509 - 517, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813035-3.00061-7

McKetin R; Clemens KJ; Kaye SS, 2013, ', Methamphetamine addiction', in Miller PM (ed.), Principles of Addiction, Academic Press

McKetin R; Kaye SS; Clemens KJ; Hermens D, 2013, 'Methamphetamine Addiction', in Principles of Addiction, pp. 689 - 698, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-398336-7.00070-X

Caille S; Clemens K; Stinus L; Cador M, 2012, 'Modeling nicotine addiction in rats', in Methods in Molecular Biology, pp. 243 - 256, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-458-2_15

Journal articles

Khoo SYS; Clemens KJ; McNally GP, 2018, 'Palatable food self-administration and reinstatement are not affected by dual orexin receptor antagonism', Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, vol. 87, pp. 147 - 157, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.06.028

Khoo SYS; McNally GP; Clemens KJ, 2017, 'The dual orexin receptor antagonist TCS1102 does not affect reinstatement of nicotine-seeking', PLoS ONE, vol. 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173967

Clemens KJ; Lay BPP; Holmes NM, 2017, 'Extended nicotine self-administration increases sensitivity to nicotine, motivation to seek nicotine and the reinforcing properties of nicotine-paired cues.', Addiction Biology, vol. 22, pp. 400 - 410, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/adb.12336

Huynh C; Fam J; Ahmed SH; Clemens KJ, 2017, 'Rats quit nicotine for a sweet reward following an extensive history of nicotine use', Addiction Biology, vol. 22, pp. 142 - 151, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/adb.12306

Sharpe MJ; Clemens KJ; Morris MJ; Westbrook RF, 2016, 'Daily Exposure to Sucrose Impairs Subsequent Learning About Food Cues: A Role for Alterations in Ghrelin Signaling and Dopamine D2 Receptors', Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 41, pp. 1357 - 1365, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npp.2015.287

Macnamara CL; Holmes NM; Westbrook RF; Clemens KJ, 2016, 'Varenicline impairs extinction and enhances reinstatement across repeated cycles of nicotine self-administration in rats', Neuropharmacology, vol. 105, pp. 463 - 470, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2016.02.023

Castino MR; Cornish JL; Clemens KJ, 2015, 'Inhibition of histone deacetylases facilitates extinction and attenuates reinstatement of nicotine self-administration in rats', PLoS ONE, vol. 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124796

Clemens KJ; Castino MR; Cornish JL; Goodchild AK; Holmes NM, 2014, 'Behavioral and Neural Substrates of Habit Formation in Rats Intravenously Self-Administering Nicotine', Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 39, pp. 2584 - 2593, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npp.2014.111

Castino M; Cornish J; Goodchild A; Clemens K, 2013, 'F.3 - THE ROLE OF HISTONE ACETYLATION IN THE ACQUISITION, EXTINCTION AND REINSTATEMENT OF NICOTINE SELF-ADMINISTRATION IN RATS', Behavioural Pharmacology, vol. 24, pp. e50 - e50, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.fbp.0000434849.25290.97

Motbey CP; Clemens KJ; Apetz N; Winstock AR; Ramsey J; Li KM; Wyatt N; Callaghan PD; Bowen MT; Cornish JL, 2013, 'High levels of intravenous mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) self-administration in rats: Neural consequences and comparison with methamphetamine', Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 27, pp. 823 - 836, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881113490325

Pardey MC; Kumar NN; Goodchild AK; Clemens KJ; Homewood J; Cornish JL, 2012, 'Long-term effects of chronic oral ritalin administration on cognitive and neural development in adolescent Wistar Kyoto rats', Brain Sciences, vol. 2, pp. 375 - 404, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/brainsci2030375

Holmes NM; Clemens KJ, 2011, 'Multiple interpretations of cocaine-seeking behavior after prolonged self-administration training', Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 31, pp. 3935 - 3936, http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.6354-10.2011

Clemens KJ; Caillé S; Cador M, 2010, 'The effects of response operandum and prior food training on intravenous Nicotine self-administration in rats', Psychopharmacology, vol. 211, pp. 43 - 54, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1866-z

Vendruscolo LF; Gueye AB; Vendruscolo JCM; Clemens KJ; Mormède P; Darnaudéry M; Cador M, 2010, 'Reduced alcohol drinking in adult rats exposed to sucrose during adolescence', Neuropharmacology, vol. 59, pp. 388 - 394, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.05.015

Clemens KJ; Caillé S; Stinus L; Cador M, 2009, 'The addition of five minor tobacco alkaloids increases nicotine-induced hyperactivity, sensitization and intravenous self-administration in rats', International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 12, pp. 1355 - 1366, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1461145709000273

Hamlin AS; Clemens KJ; Choi EA; McNally GP, 2009, 'Paraventricular thalamus mediates context-induced reinstatement (renewal) of extinguished reward seeking', European Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 29, pp. 802 - 812, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06623.x

Cornish JL; Clemens KJ; Thompson MR; Callaghan PD; Dawson B; McGregor IS, 2008, 'High ambient temperature increases intravenous methamphetamine self-administration on fixed and progressive ratio schedules in rats', Journal of Psychopharmacology, vol. 22, pp. 100 - 110, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881107082286

Clemens KJ; Vendruscolo LF, 2008, 'Anxious to drink: Gabapentin normalizes GABAergic transmission in the central amygdala and reduces symptoms of ethanol dependence', Journal of Neuroscience, vol. 28, pp. 9087 - 9089, http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2928-08.2008

Hamlin AS; Clemens KJ; McNally GP, 2008, 'Renewal of extinguished cocaine-seeking', Neuroscience, vol. 151, pp. 659 - 670, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.11.018

Clemens KJ; Cornish JL; Hunt GE; McGregor IS, 2007, 'Repeated weekly exposure to MDMA, methamphetamine or their combination: Long-term behavioural and neurochemical effects in rats', Drug and Alcohol Dependence, vol. 86, pp. 183 - 190, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.06.004

Clemens KJ; McGregor IS; Hunt GE; Cornish JL, 2007, 'MDMA, methamphetamine and their combination: Possible lessons for party drug users from recent preclinical research', Drug and Alcohol Review, vol. 26, pp. 9 - 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09595230601036945

Clemens KJ; Cornish JL; Hunt GE; McGregor IS, 2006, 'Intravenous methamphetamine self-administration in rats: Effects of intravenous or intraperitoneal MDMA co-administration', Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, vol. 85, pp. 454 - 463, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pbb.2006.09.015

McGregor I; Clemens K; Cornish J; Thompson M; Li K; Hunt G, 2005, 'MDMA, methamphetamine and their combination: Comparison of long-term behavioural and neural effects in rats', BEHAVIOURAL PHARMACOLOGY, vol. 16, pp. S11 - S11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00008877-200509001-00033

Cornish JL; Lontos JM; Clemens KJ; McGregor IS, 2005, 'Cocaine and heroin ('speedball') self-administration: The involvement of nucleus accumbens dopamine and μ-opiate, but not δ-opiate receptors', Psychopharmacology, vol. 180, pp. 21 - 32, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-2135-9

Clemens KJ; Cornish JL; Li KM; Hunt GE; McGregor IS, 2005, 'MDMA ('Ecstasy') and methamphetamine combined: Order of administration influences hyperthermic and long-term adverse effects in female rats', Neuropharmacology, vol. 49, pp. 195 - 207, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2005.03.002

Thompson MR; Li KN; Clemens KJ; Gurtman CG; Hunt GE; Cornish JL; McGregor IS, 2004, 'Chronic fluoxetine treatment partly attenuates the long-term anxiety and depressive symptoms induced by MDMA ('Ecstasy') in rats', Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 29, pp. 694 - 704, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1300347

Clemens KJ; Van Nieuwenhuyzen PS; Li KM; Cornish JL; Hunt GE; McGregor IS, 2004, 'MDMA ("ecstacy"), methamphetamine and their combination: Long-term changes in social interaction and neurochemistry in the rat', Psychopharmacology, vol. 173, pp. 318 - 325, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-1786-x

McGregor IS; Clemens KJ; Van Der Plasse G; Li KM; Hunt GE; Chen F; Lawrence AJ, 2003, 'Increased anxiety 3 months after brief exposure to MDMA ('Ecstasy') in rats: Association with altered 5-HT transporter and receptor density', Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 28, pp. 1472 - 1484, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.npp.1300185

McGregor IS; Gurtman CG; Morley KC; Clemens KJ; Blokland A; Li KM; Cornish JL; Hunt GE, 2003, 'Increased anxiety and "depressive" symptoms months after MDMA ("ecstasy") in rats: Drug-induced hyperthermia does not predict long-term outcomes', Psychopharmacology, vol. 168, pp. 465 - 474, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1452-8

Conference Abstracts

Khoo SY; McNally GP; Clemens KJ, 2015, 'effect of the dual orexin receptor antagonist TCS1102 on intravenous nicotine self-administration and reinstatement in the rat', in JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, Vol. 134, pp. 215 - 215, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australa, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, 23 - 27 August 2015, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000360206300525&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a

Castino M; Youngson N; Baker-Andresen D; Ratnu V; Bredy T; Clemens K, 2015, 'Transcriptional and epigenetic factors underlying the extinction of nicotine-seeking behaviour in the rat', in JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, Vol. 134, pp. 349 - 349, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australa, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, 23 - 27 August 2015, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000360206300896&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a

Clemens K; Lay B; Holmes N, 2015, 'The effect of the partial receptor agonist varenicline on responding maintained by nicotine-associated cues', in JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, WILEY-BLACKWELL, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, Vol. 134, pp. 349 - 350, presented at 25th Biennial Meeting of the International-Society-for-Neurochemistry Jointly with the 13th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific-Society-for-Neurochemistry in Conjunction with the 35th Meeting of the Australa, Cairns, AUSTRALIA, 23 - 27 August 2015, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000360206300899&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a

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