Carolina L. Haass-Koffler, PharmD

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of California, San Francisco

Clinical Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics

Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center

5858 Horton Street, Emeryville, CA 94608 US

Tel: (510) 985-3926

Fax: (510) 985-3101

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Research interest: Determining the physiological role of Corticotropin-releasing-factor binding-protein (CRF-BP), its interaction with Corticotropin-releasing-factor (CRF) and the Corticotropin-releasing-factor receptor 2 (CRF-R2).  Dr. Haass-Koffler is also interested in the effect of CRF-BP on psychiatric disorders and its role in reinstatement of cocaine and alcohol seeking behaviors. 

Stress increases addictive behavior.  However, the mechanism by which stress-released molecules exert their effects on cocaine- and alcohol-seeking are poorly understood.  CRF is released in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) during stressful events.  CRF is also synthesized and secreted by the placenta during the third trimester of pregnancy; however, despite the high CRF stress levels in the maternal bloodstream, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels are within normal range.  This paradox has been explained by the presence of CRF-BP, which was originally thought to have a buffer role, preventing excessive levels of CRF during stressful events.  However, we postulate that CRF-BP is not just a sink for CRF, but has an active role in the CRF-mediate processes and the potentiation of NMDA receptor signaling.

Dr. Haass-Koffler has obtained a Clinical Pharmacology Fellowship in the Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Department at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).  She is currently working both in the Medication Development Group and in the Bonci lab.  She completed her doctoral degree in Pharmacy in the Pharmaceutical Science Pathway at UCSF and received the Dean's student project award for outstanding project in the Pharmaceutical Science Pathway for her study:  "The role of Corticotropin Releasing Factor-Binding Protein in the Central Nervous System".

She received a BS in chemistry for UC Berkeley, and she worked as research chemist at Roche Pharmaceuticals in the Neurobiology group. 

Book Chapters:

Haass-Koffler CL and McCance-Katz EF, Lowinson & Ruiz's Substance Abuse: A Comprehensive Textbook, Fifth Edition, Section 7: Management of Associated Medical Conditions, 52:  Medication Interactions. In press.