Michigan Pharmacology

A new paper (co-authored by Drs. Emily Jutkiewicz, Ben Clements, John Traynor, and more) was recently published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. The paper, “Positive allosteric modulation of the delta opioid receptor attenuates depression-like and pain-like behaviors but does not promote convulsions” can be found here:

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It was so great to see everyone last Friday at the Michigan Pharmacology Spikes for Science volleyball tournament and social event!

Congratulations to Team Western Blockers for winning the volleyball tournament! They chose for the proceeds of the event to go to Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor! We were able to donate $400 to Food Gatherers and thanks to The Harold and Kay Peplau Family Fund & an anonymous donor, our donation was matched (for an $800 total donation).

Thank you again to the Pharmacology Outreach and Social Committees to everyone who participated in the event! Until the next one!

Erica Levitt, PhD, PharmD, and winner of the 2026 John J. Abel Award, presents “Understanding Opioid Overdose: One Breath at a Time.” This special presentation is open to both ASPET members and non-members. Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/iffj50Z4PfF

Ben Clements, PhD, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan, is the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Highlighted Trainee Author for June 2026. His research focuses on the characterization of novel pain therapeutics, ranging from NMDA receptor antagonists to opioid receptor allosteric modulators.

“My work aims to create new ways to provide pain relief to patients, with the goal of making new medications for transition from the bench to patients,” he shared.

🔗 Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpet.2026.104891

Congratulations to Michigan Medicine Michigan Pharmacology Isom Lab MSTP student, Vikram Bagchi on receipt of a highly competitive NIH/NINDS F31 predoctoral fellowship!

A new paper (co-authored by Dr. Paula Goforth and more) was recently published in Molecular Metabolism. The paper, “Increased leptin signaling drives the response of hypothalamic LepRb neurons to diet-induced obesity” can be found here:

Increased leptin signaling drives the response of hypothalamic LepRb neurons to diet-induced obesity - PubMed The failure of hyperleptinemia to decrease adiposity in common forms of obesity has led to the notion that impaired leptin receptor (LepRb) signaling ("leptin resistance") might cause obesity. Because LepRb transcriptional signaling plays a central role in leptin action, we defined the control of ge...

A new paper (co-authored by Dr. Arya Subhash and Dr. Carol Parent) was recently published in Current Opinion in Cell Biology. The paper, “Encoding chemical cues through compartmentalized signal packaging” can be found here:

Encoding chemical cues through compartmentalized signal packaging - PubMed Signal packaging is a fundamental mechanism that enables cells to manufacture, target, stabilize, and amplify chemical cues. By organizing chemokines, lipid mediators, and guidance factors into glycan lattices, lipid-protein carriers, membrane nanodomains, extracellular vesicles, and other structure...

Congratulations to the Pharmacology Outreach Committee and a huge thank-you to Dr. George Mashour for a wildly successful inaugural Pharmacology 4 Everyone event at the Ann Arbor District Library!

A new paper (co-authored by Dr. Michelle Hastings and more) was recently published in Brain Research. The paper, “Evaluation of open field movement organization and spatial orientation in 5xFAD mice” can be found here:

Evaluation of open field movement organization and spatial orientation in 5xFAD mice - PubMed Wandering behavior or becoming lost in familiar environments is frequently observed during progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and may be a possible prodromal symptom of the disease but also is extremely dangerous for those suffering from this neurodegenerative disease. The accumulation of amylo...

A new paper (co-authored by Dr. Kyoung Lee and more) was recently published in Cancers. The paper, “Hypoxia Impairs CD8+ T Cell Fitness and Is Associated with a Dysfunctional CD8+ T Cell State in Pancreatic Cancer” can be found here:

Hypoxia Impairs CD8+ T Cell Fitness and Is Associated with a Dysfunctional CD8+ T Cell State in Pancreatic Cancer - PubMed Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense stromal microenvironment and profound hypoxia, which contribute to therapeutic resistance. Using an in vitro system incorporating pancreatic cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), we show that hypoxia suppresses CD8....