Opioids are highly effective analgesics but frequently lead to tolerance and dependence. Opioid effects are mediated by the μ‑opioid receptor (MOR), whose regulation thro [...]

Opioids such as morphine are still the most effective analgesics for many types of pain. However, clinical utility of opioids is limited because long-term use leads to an [...]

While any number of social, psychological, and economic factors contribute to methamphetamine (MA) addiction risk, numerous biological variables have also been identified [...]

Morphine has a potency and efficacy for producing analgesia and a pharmacokinetic profile that make it favorable for use in pain treatment. Continued use of morphine a [...]

Methamphetamine (MA) is a powerful psychostimulant and its excessive use is linked to neurotoxicity and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, not all initial users develop [...]

This dissertation is focused on the role of post-endocytic sorting in opioid receptor regulation. Specifically, it describes the development of a chemical biology sensor [...]

This dissertation explores the regulation and adaptation of mu-opioid receptors (MORs) within the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), a brain region critical f [...]

Dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra regulate motivation and reward, and their disinhibition by opioids is a critical step in addicti [...]