Daryl L Davies, PhD

Daryl L. Davies, PhD, Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Southern California. In addition, he is the Director of the MS program in Management of Drug Development, in the International Center of Regulatory Science located in the School of Pharmacy. Dr. Davies earned his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Biology at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He earned his PhD in 1996 from the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology at USC School of Pharmacy.
Dr. Davies is the director of the Alcohol and Brain Research Laboratory at USC. His research revolves around the development of novel treatments for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). AUDs ranks third on the list of preventable causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States, having a major national impact affecting over 18 million people and causing over 100,000 deaths annually. The economic burden to society for AUDs is in excess of $220 billion annually which exceeds the costs of other leading preventable causes of death such as cigarette smoking and physical inactivity. Presently, pharmacotherapies, even in conjunction with psychosocial strategies, have had limited success in treating AUDs with approximately 70% of patients relapsing back into heavy drinking within one year. Finally, drug development for AUDs is a relatively young field compared to other diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, the development of new treatments for AUDs represents an important unmet medical need.
In response to this challenge, Dr. Davies and his team have focused on identifying molecular targets of alcohol action in the CNS. Recent findings from this line of investigation have resulted in the identification of specific targets for which therapeutic compounds have been designed and are currently under investigation. This multidisciplinary endeavor has brought together diverse but complementary group of scientists which include behavioral, pharmacological, electrophysiological, molecular, genetic, computational and medicinal chemistry expertise’s to maximize the potential for success. This team includes Drs. Ronald Alkana and Stan Louie (School of Pharmacy), Dr. Michael Neely (Keck School of Medicine), Dr. Nicos Petasis (Dornsife College LAS), Dr. Debra Finn (Oregon Health & Science University), and Dr. James Trudell (Stanford).

• Rising STARS (Scientific Training in Alcohol Research and other Substances) Program
  NIH · R25DA056016 · Aug 1, 2022 – Jun 30, 2027 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Regulation of Alcohol Intake by Purinergic P2X4 Receptors
  NIH · R01AA022448 · Sep 1, 2013 – Jun 30, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Sites and Mechanisms of Ethanol Action in P2X receptors
  NIH · R01AA013922 · Aug 15, 2004 – May 31, 2010 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Pressure-Based Pharmacological Alcoholism Treatments
  NIH · R21AA013890 · May 1, 2003 – Apr 30, 2008 · Role: Principal Investigator
• GABA ALLOSTERIC PATHWAYS AND SITES OF ETHANOL ACTION
  NIH · F31AA005436 · Mar 27, 1996 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Potential drug treatment for alcohol abuse studied at USC (06/20/2014)

• Alcohol-Induced Early-Stage Liver Injury Contributes to Increases in Voluntary Alcohol Intake and Cognitive Deficits in Mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res (Hoboken). 2026 Aug; 50(8):e70391.. View in PubMed
• Therapeutic Effects of Dihydromyricetin on Wholly Alcohol-Attributed Conditions: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2026 Jul 08; 18(14).. View in PubMed
• Thiamine Deficiency and Neuroinflammation Are Important Contributors to Alcohol Use Disorder. Pathophysiology. 2025 Jul 04; 32(3).. View in PubMed
• Improving the solubility of pseudo-hydrophobic chemicals through co-crystal formulation. PNAS Nexus. 2025 Jan; 4(1):pgaf007.. View in PubMed
• Pioneering Computational Culture Within Pharmacy Schools by Empowering Students With Data Science and Bioinformatics Skills. Am J Pharm Educ. 2025 Feb; 89(2):101341.. View in PubMed
• Preclinical Evaluation of Sodium Butyrate’s Potential to Reduce Alcohol Consumption: A Dose-Escalation Study in C57BL/6J Mice in Antibiotic-Enhanced Binge-Like Drinking Model. Pharmacology. 2025; 110(1):36-48.. View in PubMed
• Ivermectin increases striatal cholinergic activity to facilitate dopamine terminal function. Cell Biosci. 2024 Apr 17; 14(1):50.. View in PubMed
• Association of over the counter “hangover remedy” use with alcohol use problems and consumption patterns among young adults. Alcohol Alcohol. 2024 Jan 17; 59(2).. View in PubMed
• Dihydromyricetin supplementation improves ethanol-induced lipid accumulation and inflammation. Front Nutr. 2023; 10:1201007.. View in PubMed
• Improving the solubility of pseudo-hydrophobic Alzheimer’s Disease medicinal chemicals through co-crystal formulation. bioRxiv. 2023 Apr 28.. View in PubMed
• Pharmacy undergraduate programs: Development of an adaptive curriculum for student success. Heliyon. 2023 Feb; 9(2):e13437.. View in PubMed
• Sodium Butyrate Supplementation Modulates Neuroinflammatory Response Aggravated by Antibiotic Treatment in a Mouse Model of Binge-like Ethanol Drinking. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Dec 10; 23(24).. View in PubMed
• Dihydromyricetin improves social isolation-induced cognitive impairments and astrocytic changes in mice. Sci Rep. 2022 04 07; 12(1):5899.. View in PubMed
• Supplementation with sodium butyrate protects against antibiotic-induced increases in ethanol consumption behavior in mice. Alcohol. 2022 05; 100:1-9.. View in PubMed
• Social isolation induces neuroinflammation and microglia overactivation, while dihydromyricetin prevents and improves them. J Neuroinflammation. 2022 Jan 04; 19(1):2.. View in PubMed
• Social Isolation Induces Neuroinflammation And Microglia Overactivation, While Dihydromyricetin Prevents And Improves Them. Res Sq. 2021 Oct 01.. View in PubMed
• The P2X4 purinergic receptor has emerged as a potent regulator of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell mobilization and homing-a novel view of P2X4 and P2X7 receptor interaction in orchestrating stem cell trafficking. Leukemia. 2022 01; 36(1):248-256.. View in PubMed
• Identification of Dihydromyricetin and Metabolites in Serum and Brain Associated with Acute Anti-Ethanol Intoxicating Effects in Mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Jul 12; 22(14).. View in PubMed
• A Novel Dual Drug Approach That Combines Ivermectin and Dihydromyricetin (DHM) to Reduce Alcohol Drinking and Preference in Mice. Molecules. 2021 Mar 22; 26(6).. View in PubMed
• Dihydromyricetin improves mitochondrial outcomes in the liver of alcohol-fed mice via the AMPK/Sirt-1/PGC-1α signaling axis. Alcohol. 2021 03; 91:1-9.. View in PubMed
• Cross-Talk between P2X and NMDA Receptors. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 29; 21(19).. View in PubMed
• Antibiotic-induced disruption of commensal microbiome linked to increases in binge-like ethanol consumption behavior. Brain Res. 2020 11 15; 1747:147067.. View in PubMed
• Ethanol antagonizes P2X4 receptors in ventral tegmental area neurons. Neuroreport. 2020 08 12; 31(12):936-941.. View in PubMed
• The macrocyclic lactones ivermectin and moxidectin show differential effects on rotational behavior in the 6-hydroxydopamine mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Behav Brain Res. 2020 09 01; 393:112804.. View in PubMed
• Modulation of Hippocampal GABAergic Neurotransmission and Gephyrin Levels by Dihydromyricetin Improves Anxiety. Front Pharmacol. 2020; 11:1008.. View in PubMed
• Dihydromyricetin Protects the Liver via Changes in Lipid Metabolism and Enhanced Ethanol Metabolism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2020 05; 44(5):1046-1060.. View in PubMed
• A novel pharmacotherapy approach using P-glycoprotein (PGP/ABCB1) efflux inhibitor combined with ivermectin to reduce alcohol drinking and preference in mice. Alcohol. 2020 08; 86:1-8.. View in PubMed
• Residues in Transmembrane Segments of the P2X4 Receptor Contribute to Channel Function and Ethanol Sensitivity. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Apr 02; 21(7).. View in PubMed
• Dopamine Receptor Blockade Attenuates Purinergic P2X4 Receptor-Mediated Prepulse Inhibition Deficits and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms. Front Cell Neurosci. 2019; 13:331.. View in PubMed
• A newly developed anesthetic based on a unique chemical core. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 07 30; 116(31):15706-15715.. View in PubMed
• Moxidectin Effects on Gut Microbiota of Wistar-Kyoto Rats: Relevance to Depressive-Like Behavior. Clin Pharmacol Transl Med. 2019; 3(1):134-142.. View in PubMed
• Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice. J Vis Exp. 2019 01 07.. View in PubMed
• P2X7 Receptor Antagonist A804598 Inhibits Inflammation in Brain and Liver in C57BL/6J Mice Exposed to Chronic Ethanol and High Fat Diet. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2019 06; 14(2):263-277.. View in PubMed
• Macrophage P2X4 receptors augment bacterial killing and protect against sepsis. JCI Insight. 2018 06 07; 3(11).. View in PubMed
• Preclinical evaluation of avermectins as novel therapeutic agents for alcohol use disorders. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018 06; 235(6):1697-1709.. View in PubMed
• Reduced expression of purinergic P2X4 receptors increases voluntary ethanol intake in C57BL/6J mice. Alcohol. 2018 05; 68:63-70.. View in PubMed
• Ethanol differentially modulates P2X4 and P2X7 receptor activity and function in BV2 microglial cells. Neuropharmacology. 2018 Jan; 128:11-21.. View in PubMed
• α2 Subunit-Containing GABAA Receptor Subtypes Are Upregulated and Contribute to Alcohol-Induced Functional Plasticity in the Rat Hippocampus. Mol Pharmacol. 2017 08; 92(2):101-112.. View in PubMed
• Preclinical development of moxidectin as a novel therapeutic for alcohol use disorder. Neuropharmacology. 2017 02; 113(Pt A):60-70.. View in PubMed
• P2X4 Receptor Reporter Mice: Sparse Brain Expression and Feeding-Related Presynaptic Facilitation in the Arcuate Nucleus. J Neurosci. 2016 08 24; 36(34):8902-20.. View in PubMed
• Role of purinergic P2X4 receptors in regulating striatal dopamine homeostasis and dependent behaviors. J Neurochem. 2016 10; 139(1):134-48.. View in PubMed
• Sex and the Lab: An Alcohol-Focused Commentary on the NIH Initiative to Balance Sex in Cell and Animal Studies. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016 06; 40(6):1182-91.. View in PubMed
• A Pilot Study of the Safety and Initial Efficacy of Ivermectin for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016 06; 40(6):1312-20.. View in PubMed
• Utilizing an Orally Dissolving Strip for Pharmacological and Toxicological Studies: A Simple and Humane Alternative to Oral Gavage for Animals. J Vis Exp. 2016 Mar 23.. View in PubMed
• Chronic ethanol exposure combined with high fat diet up-regulates P2X7 receptors that parallels neuroinflammation and neuronal loss in C57BL/6J mice. J Neuroimmunol. 2015 Aug 15; 285:169-79.. View in PubMed
• Oral delivery of ivermectin using a fast dissolving oral film: Implications for repurposing ivermectin as a pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder. Alcohol. 2015 Sep; 49(6):553-9.. View in PubMed
• The importance of animals in advancing research on alcohol use disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2015 Apr; 39(4):575-8.. View in PubMed
• Manipulations of extracellular Loop 2 in α1 GlyR ultra-sensitive ethanol receptors (USERs) enhance receptor sensitivity to isoflurane, ethanol, and lidocaine, but not propofol. Neuroscience. 2015 Jun 25; 297:68-77.. View in PubMed
• Glycine and GABA(A) ultra-sensitive ethanol receptors as novel tools for alcohol and brain research. Mol Pharmacol. 2014 Dec; 86(6):635-46.. View in PubMed
• Multiday administration of ivermectin is effective in reducing alcohol intake in mice at doses shown to be safe in humans. Neuroreport. 2014 Sep 10; 25(13):1018-23.. View in PubMed
• P2X4 receptors (P2X4Rs) represent a novel target for the development of drugs to prevent and/or treat alcohol use disorders. Front Neurosci. 2014; 8:176.. View in PubMed
• Contribution of P2X4 receptors to ethanol intake in male C57BL/6 mice. Neurochem Res. 2014 Jun; 39(6):1127-39.. View in PubMed
• Avermectins differentially affect ethanol intake and receptor function: implications for developing new therapeutics for alcohol use disorders. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014 Jun; 17(6):907-16.. View in PubMed
• Structural models of ligand-gated ion channels: sites of action for anesthetics and ethanol. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2014 Mar; 38(3):595-603.. View in PubMed
• Tryptophan 46 is a site for ethanol and ivermectin action in P2X4 receptors. Purinergic Signal. 2013 Dec; 9(4):621-32.. View in PubMed
• Sociocommunicative and sensorimotor impairments in male P2X4-deficient mice. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013 Sep; 38(10):1993-2002.. View in PubMed
• Pharmacological insights into the role of P2X4 receptors in behavioural regulation: lessons from ivermectin. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013 Jun; 16(5):1059-70.. View in PubMed
• Recent advances in the discovery and preclinical testing of novel compounds for the prevention and/or treatment of alcohol use disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013 Jan; 37(1):8-15.. View in PubMed
• Ivermectin reduces alcohol intake and preference in mice. Neuropharmacology. 2012 Aug; 63(2):190-201.. View in PubMed
• Charge and geometry of residues in the loop 2 β hairpin differentially affect agonist and ethanol sensitivity in glycine receptors. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2012 May; 341(2):543-51.. View in PubMed
• Alcohol-binding sites in distinct brain proteins: the quest for atomic level resolution. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2011 Sep; 35(9):1561-73.. View in PubMed
• Implication of the purinergic system in alcohol use disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2011 Apr; 35(4):584-94.. View in PubMed
• Ethanol is a fast channel inhibitor of P2X4 receptors. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2011 Apr; 337(1):171-9.. View in PubMed
• Functional role of the intracellular loop linking transmembrane domains 6 and 7 of the human dipeptide transporter hPEPT1. J Membr Biol. 2010 Dec; 238(1-3):43-9.. View in PubMed
• Ivermectin antagonizes ethanol inhibition in purinergic P2X4 receptors. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2010 Sep 01; 334(3):720-8.. View in PubMed
• Molecular targets and mechanisms for ethanol action in glycine receptors. Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Jul; 127(1):53-65.. View in PubMed
• A point mutation in the ectodomain-transmembrane 2 interface eliminates the inhibitory effects of ethanol in P2X4 receptors. J Neurochem. 2010 Jan; 112(1):307-17.. View in PubMed
• Mutagenesis and cysteine scanning of transmembrane domain 10 of the human dipeptide transporter. Pharm Res. 2009 Oct; 26(10):2358-66.. View in PubMed
• Loop 2 structure in glycine and GABA(A) receptors plays a key role in determining ethanol sensitivity. J Biol Chem. 2009 Oct 02; 284(40):27304-14.. View in PubMed
• Roles for loop 2 residues of alpha1 glycine receptors in agonist activation. J Biol Chem. 2008 Oct 10; 283(41):27698-27706.. View in PubMed
• Roles of ectodomain and transmembrane regions in ethanol and agonist action in purinergic P2X2 and P2X3 receptors. Neuropharmacology. 2008 Oct; 55(5):835-43.. View in PubMed
• Purinergic type 2 receptors at GABAergic synapses on ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons are targets for ethanol action. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2008 Oct; 327(1):196-205.. View in PubMed
• Targets for ethanol action and antagonism in loop 2 of the extracellular domain of glycine receptors. J Neurochem. 2008 Aug; 106(3):1337-49.. View in PubMed
• Ethanol inhibits functional activity of the human intestinal dipeptide transporter hPepT1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 May; 32(5):777-84.. View in PubMed
• Evidence that ethanol acts on a target in Loop 2 of the extracellular domain of alpha1 glycine receptors. J Neurochem. 2007 Sep; 102(6):2097-2109.. View in PubMed
• Cysteine scanning of transmembrane domain three of the human dipeptide transporter: implications for substrate transport. J Drug Target. 2007 Apr; 15(3):218-25.. View in PubMed
• A charge pair interaction between Arg282 in transmembrane segment 7 and Asp341 in transmembrane segment 8 of hPepT1. Pharm Res. 2007 Jan; 24(1):66-72.. View in PubMed
• Effects of ethanol on adenosine 5′-triphosphate-gated purinergic and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2006 Feb; 30(2):349-58.. View in PubMed
• Differential effects of propofol and ethanol on P2X4 receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Int Congr Ser. 2005 Nov; 1283:285-287.. View in PubMed
• Ethanol differentially affects ATP-gated P2X(3) and P2X(4) receptor subtypes expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Neuropharmacology. 2005 Aug; 49(2):243-53.. View in PubMed
• Effects of the abused solvent toluene on recombinant P2X receptors expressed in HEK293 cells. Brain Res Mol Brain Res. 2004 Jun 18; 125(1-2):86-95.. View in PubMed
• Multiple sites of ethanol action in alpha1 and alpha2 glycine receptors suggested by sensitivity to pressure antagonism. J Neurochem. 2004 Jun; 89(5):1175-85.. View in PubMed
• Biophysical evidence for His57 as a proton-binding site in the mammalian intestinal transporter hPepT1. Pharm Res. 2003 Dec; 20(12):1911-6.. View in PubMed
• Benzodiazepine agonist and inverse agonist coupling in GABAA receptors antagonized by increased atmospheric pressure. Eur J Pharmacol. 2003 May 23; 469(1-3):37-45.. View in PubMed
• Ethanol potentiation of glycine receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes antagonized by increased atmospheric pressure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003 May; 27(5):743-55.. View in PubMed
• Ethanol sensitivity in ATP-gated P2X receptors is subunit dependent. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2002 Jun; 26(6):773-8.. View in PubMed
• Pressure-sensitive and -insensitive coupling in gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2001 Oct; 157(4):401-10.. View in PubMed
• Direct evidence for a cause-effect link between ethanol potentiation of GABA(A) receptor function and intoxication from hyperbaric studies in C57, LS, and SS mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2001 Aug; 25(8):1098-106.. View in PubMed
• Ethanol enhances GABAA receptor function in short sleep and long sleep mouse brain membranes. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2001 Mar; 25(3):478-83.. View in PubMed
• Effects of posttraining ethanol on an appetitive task. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2001 Jan; 75(1):111-20.. View in PubMed
• In vivo and in vitro hyperbaric studies in mice suggest novel sites of action for ethanol. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1999 Feb; 141(4):339-50.. View in PubMed
• Direct antagonism of ethanol’s effects on GABA(A) receptors by increased atmospheric pressure. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1998 Nov; 22(8):1689-97.. View in PubMed
• Proliferation of astroglia from the adult human cerebrum is inhibited by ethanol in vitro. Brain Res. 1996 Aug 26; 731(1-2):39-44.. View in PubMed
• Parenterally administered 3-nitropropionic acid and amphetamine can combine to produce damage to terminals and cell bodies in the striatum. Brain Res. 1996 Mar 18; 712(2):221-9.. View in PubMed
• Effect of 12 atmospheres helium-oxygen on the response of mice to convulsant drugs. Undersea Hyperb Med. 1996 Mar; 23(1):35-41.. View in PubMed
• Low level hyperbaric antagonism of diazepam’s locomotor depressant and anticonvulsant properties in mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1996 Feb; 276(2):667-75.. View in PubMed
• Low-level hyperbaric exposure antagonizes locomotor effects of ethanol and n-propanol but not morphine in C57BL mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1995 Jun; 19(3):693-700.. View in PubMed
• Low-level hyperbaric antagonism of ethanol’s anticonvulsant property in C57BL/6J mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1994 Oct; 18(5):1190-5.. View in PubMed
• Delayed growth and maturation of astrocytic cultures following exposure to ethanol: electron microscopic observations. Brain Res. 1991 Apr 26; 547(1):53-61.. View in PubMed
• Effect of perinatal administration of ethanol on the CA1 pyramidal cell of the hippocampus and Purkinje cell of the cerebellum: an ultrastructural survey. J Neurocytol. 1990 Oct; 19(5):708-17.. View in PubMed

• Asatryan, Liana
• Hendershot, Christian
• Tsukamoto, Hidekazu
• Pedersen, Eric
• Papadopoulos, Vassilios
• Kaplowitz, Neil