Ream Al-Hasani, PhD

Assistant Professor

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis (UHSP)

The Al-Hasani Lab strives to elucidate the neurocircuitry underlying addiction, stress, chronic pain and analgesia, specifically focusing on the role of the opioid peptide system to identify new targets for novel pharmacotherapies. We use in vivo optogenetic behavioral models to study the role of the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor system in the modulation of negative affective behaviors in opioid and nicotine withdrawal. We are actively studying the role of the dynorphin/kappa opioid receptor system in chronic pain states and looking at the intersect with opioid addiction and abuse. Finally, the Al-Hasani Lab is collaborating with chemists to develop new methods to detect peptide release in freely moving animals.