College of Pharmacy
McLaughlin Lab
Led by Jay McLaughlin · Pharmacodynamics
What we study
The McLaughlin Lab studies the pharmacology of opioid and related brain receptors. A recent student project tests new drug candidates that block the kappa opioid receptor for preventing stress-induced cocaine relapse; its papers also cover pain and neuroinflammation.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Mice
- Cells in a dish
- Coding helps
- Project
- 1
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Evaluating analogs of [D-Trp]CJ-15,208 for orally-active kappa opioid receptor antagonism as a potential therapeutics to prevent stress-induced cocaine reinstat
The lab tests 35 new tetrapeptide drugs that block a brain receptor called KOR, hoping to stop people from craving cocaine after stress. One compound, BPN-37145, works better than the old drug and can be taken by mouth to reduce drug-seeking in mice.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 468
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Epigenetic LOCK chromatin links H3K9 modifications to ATM–γH2AX signaling in HIV-Tat and opioid neuroinflammation
2026 · Cell Death and Disease
Studies how HIV-Tat and morphine worsen brain inflammation and DNA damage.
- Efficacy Modulation and Structural Insights of Mu Opioid-Sparing Agents (Abstract ID: 231854)
2026 · Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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- Peripheral kappa opioid receptors modulate cold hypersensitivity in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy
2026 · Pain
Finds that a pain receptor called KOR helps with cold pain from chemotherapy.
- Human α1-Antitrypsin Inhibits Nociceptor Excitability and Relieves Inflammatory and Neuropathic Pain
2026 · Biomolecules
Shows how a protein called hAAT reduces pain by blocking inflammation.
- Redox imbalance and epigenetic reprogramming underlie polysubstance-induced neuronal dysfunction
2026 · Pharmacological Research
Tests how cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol damage brain cells and changes their function.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Jay McLaughlin hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.