Paul D. Drew

Federal Grant PI High Impact

Professor and Chair

UAMS

Last publication 2026 Last refreshed 2026-05-22

faculty

Neurobiology & Developmental Science, College of Medicine

drewpauld@uams.edu

39 h-index 86 pubs 4,700 cited

Research Areas

Links

ORCID Lab Website Research Group UAMS TRI Profile

OverviewAI-generated summary

Paul D. Drew's research focuses on the neurobiological and immunological effects of ethanol exposure, particularly in the context of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and alcohol use disorder. He investigates how ethanol impacts neuroinflammation, myelination, and neurodevelopment in the cerebellum and hippocampus, utilizing mouse models to explore these complex interactions. His work examines the molecular signaling pathways involved, such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and MyD88-dependent signaling, in mediating ethanol-induced neuroinflammation.

Drew has received significant federal funding from the NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for two grants totaling $830,975. These grants support his investigations into the dynamic neuroimmune interactions in the onset and progression of FASD, and the specific role of neuroinflammation in FASD-related cognitive deficits. His laboratory also explores neuroinflammatory mechanisms in other contexts, including multiple sclerosis, and studies innate and adaptive immunity.

With a substantial publication record (85 publications, 4,675 citations) and an h-index of 39, Drew is recognized as a highly cited researcher. He actively collaborates with colleagues at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, including James C. Douglas, Cynthia J.M. Kane, Tonya Rafferty, and Kalee N. Holloway, contributing to a robust research network. Drew holds the position of Professor and Chair in the Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Science at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine.

Research Overview

Drew Lab Research: Multiple Sclerosis Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Neuroimmunology Innate and Adaptive Immunity

Metrics

h-index: 39
Publications: 86
Citations: 4,700

Selected Publications

Targeting the Nlrp3 inflammasome as potential treatment for ethanol-induced non-communicable diseases (2024)

DOI OpenAlex
Developmental Ethanol Exposure Impacts Purkinje Cells but Not Microglia in the Young Adult Cerebellum (2024)

8 citations DOI OpenAlex
Ethanol Induces Neuroinflammation in a Chronic Plus Binge Mouse Model of Alcohol Use Disorder via TLR4 and MyD88-Dependent Signaling (2023)

25 citations DOI OpenAlex
Developmental ethanol exposure has minimal impact on cerebellar microglial dynamics, morphology, and interactions with Purkinje cells during adolescence (2023)

9 citations DOI OpenAlex
Ethanol-induced cerebellar transcriptomic changes in a postnatal model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: Focus on disease onset (2023)

11 citations DOI OpenAlex
Cerebellar Transcriptomic Analysis in a Chronic plus Binge Mouse Model of Alcohol Use Disorder Demonstrates Ethanol-Induced Neuroinflammation and Altered Glial Gene Expression (2023)

10 citations DOI OpenAlex
Effects of chronic and binge ethanol administration on mouse cerebellar and hippocampal neuroinflammation (2022)

16 citations DOI OpenAlex
Neuroimaging predictors of longitudinal disability and cognition outcomes in multiple sclerosis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2021)

11 citations DOI OpenAlex
Ethanol effects on cerebellar myelination in a postnatal mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (2021)

13 citations DOI OpenAlex
Ethanol modulation of hippocampal neuroinflammation, myelination, and neurodevelopment in a postnatal mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (2021)

15 citations DOI OpenAlex
Divergent and overlapping hippocampal and cerebellar transcriptome responses following developmental ethanol exposure during the secondary neurogenic period (2021)

13 citations DOI OpenAlex
Microglia and astrocytes show limited, acute alterations in morphology and protein expression following a single developmental alcohol exposure (2021)

13 citations DOI OpenAlex
Ethanol modulation of cerebellar neuroinflammation in a postnatal mouse model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (2021)

24 citations DOI OpenAlex

View all publications on OpenAlex →

Federal Grants 3 $1,392,941 total

NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Contact PI May 2026 - Jan 2031

Role of Oligodendrocyte-Lineage Cells in FASD

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism $561,966 R01

NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Contact PI Sep 2018 - Jun 2024

Dynamic neuroimmune interactions in the onset and progression of FASD

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism $451,350 R01

NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Contact PI Sep 2018 - Aug 2025

Neuroinflammation: Role in FASD Cognitive Deficits

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism $379,625 R01

Grants & Funding

PPAR-alpha agonists as treatment for autoimmune demyelination National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Pass Through: The Ohio State University Research Foundation Principal Investigator
PPAR-Agonist as Treatment for Autoimmune Demyelination (Subcontract from UT Southwestern Medical Center) National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Pass Through: University of Texas - Southwestern Principal Investigator
LXR agonists as treatment for autoimmune demyelination National Multiple Sclerosis Society Principal Investigator
PPAR-alpha agonists as treatment for autoimmune demyelination National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Pass Through: The Ohio State University Research Foundation Principal Investigator
PPAR-gamma Immune Regulation and Multiple Sclerosis NIH Principal Investigator
Microglia modulate ethanol impact on CNS development. NIH Co-Investigator
Alcohol Pathogenesis in CNS Microglial Cells NIH Co-Investigator
LXR agonists as treatment for autoimmune demyelination National Multiple Sclerosis Society Principal Investigator