Dr. Mary Kay Lobo

Dr. Lobo’s research has defined how specific striatal neuron populations contribute to addiction and mood disorders, revealing precise molecular and circuit targets.

Dr. Mary Kay Lobo is a Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she investigates the molecular and circuit mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders such as addiction, mood disorders, and stereotypy. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from UCLA, where she developed novel techniques to isolate and profile striatal neuron subtypes, and completed postdoctoral training with Dr. Eric Nestler, revealing how distinct ventral striatal circuits mediate drug reward. Since launching her lab in 2011, Dr. Lobo has continued to define how specific neuronal populations and their downstream targets contribute to neuropsychiatric disease.