Dr. Hamblin’s laboratory studies the structure and regulation of specific receptors for serotonin and norepinephrine that may be involved in the pathogenesis or treatment of mental disorders.  One focus is the 5-HT7 serotonin receptor, which may be involved in mood disorders and mediate some of the actions of the atypical antipsychotic drugs. Ongoing studies aim to determine the structural features responsible for determining the cell fate of this receptor and how cell fate is changed by receptor exposure to serotonin.  These studies may help understand the actions of drugs used to treat depression and psychosis.  The other main interest of the lab is the role of alpha1 adrenergic receptors in the cause and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Through collaborations with other VA investigators, these studies will help establish the role of these receptors in the production of symptoms in an animal model of PTSD and in its treatment.  Dr Hamblin also serves on an Institutional Review Board at the University of Washington, which provides oversight of clinical research studies.

            Dr. Hamblin is also active in the GRECC clinic where he sees patients and is involved in resident and fellow education.  He is also a clinician in the PTSD clinic in the Mental Health Service at the Seattle VA and serves as attending on the Inpatient Consultation and Liaison Service approximately one month per year at the Seattle Division.

            Dr. Hamblin supervises one post-doctoral research fellow in his laboratory, as well as residents in the University of Washington Psychiatry Residency Program.  He also gives more formal didactic lectures on drug action and mental disorders in the Residency Program and in the School of Pharmacy at UW.