Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Sep 5

We published this study a couple of months back but has now been featured by @washumedicine.bsky.social. In this study in collaboration with Bill Carlezon and Domi Burek at McLean we assessed how pain impacts sleep architecture.
source.washu.edu/2025/09/mous...

Mouse study links chronic pain to disrupted sleep patterns

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine have developed the first mouse model to replicate the disrupted sleep patterns seen in people with chronic pain.

source.washu.edu

4

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Aug 30

New study from the lab on alcohol/pain and taste aversion.

Alcohol Journal @alcoholjournal.bsky.social · Aug 28

Persistent inflammation does not promote aversion-resistant binge-like #alcohol drinking in rats @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social #alcoholawareness www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Persistent inflammation does not promote aversion-resistant binge-like alcohol drinking in rats

Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability, significantly decreases quality of life, and is highly co-morbid with substance use disorders, includin…

www.sciencedirect.com

1 1 3

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Jun 22

Our new paper on the effects of pain on sleep architecture in collaboration with Bill Carlezon and Erik Musiek is now out at @npp-journal.bsky.social. Work conducted by Domi Burek and Nisa Ibrahim.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Inflammatory pain in mice induces light cycle-dependent effects on sleep architecture - Neuropsychopharmacology

Neuropsychopharmacology - Inflammatory pain in mice induces light cycle-dependent effects on sleep architecture

www.nature.com

1 5

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Jun 4

www.psypost.org/estrogen-cur...

Estrogen curbs fentanyl intake by suppressing brain’s reward response

A new study in Neuron suggests that men may be biologically more vulnerable to misusing opioids like fentanyl in response to pain. The findings point to estrogen’s ability to suppress brain reward cir...

www.psypost.org

1

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · May 26

Congrats!

1 2

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · May 14

So honored to have our work highlighted in The Scientist
www.the-scientist.com/female-sex-h...

Female Sex Hormones Reduced Fentanyl Use in Rats

Exploring how sex differences regulate dopamine responses could inform novel interventions to prevent or treat substance use disorders.

www.the-scientist.com

1 2

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · May 7

Amazing preview written by @docbecca.bsky.social on our latest manuscript on the sex dependent effects of pain on fentanyl intake at @cp-neuron.bsky.social

Dr. Becca @docbecca.bsky.social · May 7

Just a regular old science post - I was delighted to write the Preview piece to accompany a new paper in Neuron by Jose Morón's lab, which finds estrogen/dopamine interactions can mediate sex differences in pain-driven fentanyl taking. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

An unexpected mediator of pain-driven opioid use in males—estrogen

Men who take opioids to relieve pain are at the highest risk for maladaptive misuse and overdose, but a sex-specific neurobiological link between pain…

www.sciencedirect.com

1 3

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · May 7

Thanks, we really appreciate it!

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · May 7

Thanks!

1 1

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Apr 6

Congrats!

1

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Apr 3

Congrats!!

1 1

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Mar 24

Our research on alternative treatments for fentanyl overdoses using peripheral restricted opioid antagonists is highlighted in this podcast by Cambridge University. This work was conducted by the outstanding postdoc Dr Brian Ruyle
www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/int...

Opioid overdose treatment bypasses brain, eases side effects

It may not be necessary to get drugs into the brain to block the lethal effects of a fentanyl overdose...

www.thenakedscientists.com

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Mar 12

Higher opioid deaths among men may be due to sex hormones, new fentanyl study finds - New York Post

1

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Mar 10

Some media coverage of our study on the sex-dependent effects of pain on facilitated opioid intake:
medicine.washu.edu/news/female-...

Female sex hormone protects against opioid misuse, rat study finds | WashU Medicine

Male – but not female – rats in chronic pain self-administer increasing amounts of fentanyl, which is prevented with estrogen treatment

medicine.washu.edu

4

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Mar 10

New work from the lab published at @cp-neuron.bsky.social. In this study we dissect the role of hormonal regulation in pain-induced enhanced opioid intake in males.
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham

www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...

Estradiol protects against pain-facilitated fentanyl use via suppression of opioid-evoked dopamine activity in males

Higginbotham et al. show that inflammatory pain increases opioid-evoked dopamine neuron activity to promote fentanyl use selectively in males. Ovarian hormones offer females protection, but estradiol’...

www.cell.com

1 10 24

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Feb 19

Congrats, amazing work!

2

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Dec 18

JMC lab decoration

1 2

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Dec 10

I agree... next step if to see if this works in humans. Thanks.

1

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Dec 10

Our new work on the use of peripheral restricted antagonists to prevent and rescue fentanyl induced respiratory depression without unwanted side effects such as aversive behavior is out now! Great work by lead author @brian_ruyle
elifesciences.org/for-the-pres...

Researchers identify new therapeutic strategy for fentanyl overdose

Blocking peripheral opioid receptors with naloxone methiodide sufficiently prevents and reverses fentanyl-induced cardiorespiratory depression without causing the aversive effects of naloxone in roden...

elifesciences.org

1 3

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Dec 9

Our Neuroprep postbacc program at WashU is now accepting applications. This program offers 2 years of research intensive experience in neuroscience laboratories at WashU to help potential neuroscience graduate student applicants. Please apply now!
neuroprep.wustl.edu

WashU Neuroprep

Outstanding training to ready scholars for graduate careers in neuroscience

neuroprep.wustl.edu

Reposted

Fadel Zeidan @fadelzeidan.bsky.social · Dec 7

Heading to my first #ACNP2024 ! Will be sharing the stage with @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social and @marieeikemo.bsky.social on Sunday 4-4:50pm to discuss Mechanisms Supporting Sex Differences in Opioid Use and Pain: From Preclinical to Clinical Studies.

3 2 15

jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social @jmoronconcepcion.bsky.social · Nov 22

The JMC at WashU aims to dissect the intersection between pain and opioid use disorders to find better therapeutic approaches.
moronconcepcionlab.wustl.edu

Moron-Concepcion Lab

A website by WashU Sites

moronconcepcionlab.wustl.edu

1

Reposted

Denise J. Cai, Ph.D. @denisejcai.bsky.social · Nov 20

We’re hiring tenure-track faculty focused on Systems & #ComputationalNeuroscience at the Friedman Brain Institute at Mount Sinai!

We're starting to review applications so submit yours ASAP! 👇

The Friedman Brain Institute @sinaibrain.bsky.social · Nov 18

📢 Calling all Systems & Computational Neuroscience researchers! The #FriedmanBrainInstitute invites applications for full-time, tenure-track faculty position. While application review process begins next week, applications are still being accepted! Apply Now👉 neuroscience.mssm.edu/docs/Faculty...

11 13