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Professor Steven Youngentob

Professor Steven Youngentob

Editor-in-Chief:  Professor Steven L Youngentob

Dr Youngentob is a professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology at the State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA. He is also Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, Vice-chair of the Neuroscience and Physiology Department and Co-director of SUNY Upstate Medical University's Physician Scientist Training Program. While at Upstate he has maintained an active research program through funding from the National Institutes of Health.

His area of expertise is in the chemical senses. The focus of his current research is on the biological basis for the clinical and epidemiologic relationship between fetal alcohol exposure and the increased probability for adolescent alcohol abuse. The results of his studies, funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, has captured the interest of such publications as US News & World Report and the London Telegram. Of note, his work has revealed that fetal alcohol exposure alters the development of the smell and taste systems so that the normally aversive odor and flavor of alcohol become more acceptable - enhancing intake. Recently, his lab has shown that adolescent re-exposure augments these effects. Dr Youngentob's lab continues to be actively engaged in defining the factors that contribute to the perpetuating cycle of abuse, from fetal exposure to adult abuse, and back again.

Dr Youngentob has authored and co-authored more than 70 articles including original research papers and book chapters. He has served on four different NIH grant review groups and is currently a chartered member of the Somatosensory and Chemical Senses review panel. He also served as an advisory consultant to the trans-NIH Mouse Genome Project and on the NIH advisory committee: Setting Priorities for Phenotyping the Mouse Nervous System and Behavior, Neural and Sensory Function Group.