Michael H. Baumann, Ph.D., is a Staff Scientist and Facility Head at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, in Baltimore, MD. For more than 20 years, Dr. Baumann’s research has focused on the role of brain dopamine and serotonin systems in mediating the effects of therapeutic and abused stimulant drugs. In 2012, he established the Designer Drug Research Unit (DDRU), the goal of which is to collect, analyze and disseminate up-to-date information about the pharmacology and toxicology of newly-emerging synthetic drugs of abuse, more formally known as new psychoactive substances (NPS). Working with partner organizations such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and National Drug Early Warning System, Dr. Baumann is kept informed about trends in the abuse of NPS. Most recently, his research team has characterized the molecular mechanism of action and pharmacological effects for many of the “bath salts” cathinones and their replacement analogs.