https://corderlab.com/work daily 1.0 2026-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1524522957487-YFYYX0WCLPLNIEZREVQ6/e9fec685bb57e34f946890ac3a3c8dd9.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1525128750246-2TS9G1LD4W6A0YXD0X8I/IMG_0435.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1547844022177-AXXF4MJK1975HXZDZ2QL/NMed+cover.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1580172639020-9OLQZNOIFAK3RI634W0V/AAV6_ChR2_YFP_intrathecal_Adult_DRG_chGFP488_gCGRP555_chNF200647_A1L2_20x_z0_ch00.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1580264887345-BYFV8GT1YH2HLMGXHKPS/cool+color.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1581634377170-8FG56RG1A9HAEQCH3XMM/Image_Overlay.jpg Home 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1754686418423-IOSR0I9POM96RO6X56PX/image+%2822%29.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1754686419491-JDVJLL3W4XZ0T3UWZ1JI/image+%2821%29.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1769563055491-V4E7ASTL29OT22VU9SP2/acc+trap+white.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/5f4fcffe-701a-49b7-a089-fa44d460c1c5/acc+nature+cover.png Home - Make it stand out Mimicking opioid analgesia in cortical pain circuits Oswell, Rogers, James et al. Nature. 2025 + News & Views editorial + Supplemental Information + Peer Review file The anterior cingulate cortex is a key brain region involved in the affective and motivational dimensions of pain, but how opioid analgesics modulate this cortical circuit remains unclear1. Uncovering how opioids alter nociceptive neural dynamics to produce pain relief is essential for developing safer and more targeted treatments for chronic pain. Here we show that a population of cingulate neurons encodes spontaneous pain-related behaviours and is selectively modulated by morphine. Using deep learning behavioural analyses combined with longitudinal neural recordings in mice, we identified a persistent shift in cortical activity patterns following nerve injury that reflects the emergence of an unpleasant, affective chronic pain state. Morphine reversed these neuropathic neural dynamics and reduced affective–motivational behaviours without altering sensory detection or reflexive responses, mirroring how opioids alleviate pain unpleasantness in humans. Leveraging these findings, we built a biologically inspired chemogenetic gene therapy that targets opioid-sensitive neurons in the cingulate using a synthetic μ-opioid receptor promoter to drive inhibition2. This opioid-mimetic chemogenetic gene therapy recapitulated the analgesic effects of morphine during chronic neuropathic pain, thereby offering a new strategy for precision pain management that targets a key nociceptive cortical opioid circuit with safe, on-demand analgesia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1dabc90a-841a-482a-aa36-a88d69a30192/sciadv.2025.11.issue-30.largecover.jpg Home - Make it stand out A nociceptive amygdala-striatal pathway modulating affective-motivational pain Wojick et al. Science Advances. 2025 (cover) + Supplemental Information The basolateral amygdala (BLA) assigns valence to sensory stimuli, with a dedicated nociceptive ensemble encoding the negative valence of pain. However, the effects of chronic pain on the transcriptomic signatures and projection architecture of this BLA nociceptive ensemble are not well understood. Here, we show that optogenetic inhibition of the nociceptive BLA ensemble reduces affective-motivational behaviors in chronic neuropathic pain. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing revealed peripheral injury–induced changes in genetic pathways involved in axonal and presynaptic organization in nociceptive BLA neurons. Next, we identified a previously uncharacterized nociceptive hotspot in the nucleus accumbens shell that is innervated by BLA nociceptive neurons. Axonal calcium imaging of BLA projections to the accumbens and chemogenetic inhibition of this pathway revealed pain-related transmission from the amygdala to the medial nucleus accumbens, facilitating both acute and chronic pain affective-motivational behaviors. Together, this work defines a critical nociceptive amygdala-striatal circuit underlying pain unpleasantness across pain states. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/fd1290ac-496c-4656-b43c-e99cb5e5f8a2/6.png Home - Make it stand out Psilocybin-enhanced fear extinction linked to bidirectional modulation of cortical ensembles Rogers, Heller, Corder. Nature Neuroscience. 2025 The psychedelic drug psilocybin demonstrates rapid and long-lasting efficacy across neuropsychiatric disorders that are characterized by behavioral inflexibility. However, its impact on the neural activity underlying sustained changes in behavioral flexibility has not been characterized. To test whether psilocybin enhances behavioral flexibility by altering activity in cortical neural ensembles, we performed longitudinal single-cell calcium imaging in the mouse retrosplenial cortex across a 5-day trace fear learning and extinction assay. We found that a single dose of psilocybin altered cortical ensemble turnover and oppositely modulated fear- and extinction-active neurons. Suppression of fear-active neurons and recruitment of extinction-active neurons predicted psilocybin-enhanced fear extinction. In a computational model of this microcircuit, inhibition of simulated fear-active units modulated recruitment of extinction-active units and behavioral variability in freezing, aligning with experimental results. These results suggest that psilocybin enhances behavioral flexibility by recruiting new neuronal populations and suppressing fear-active populations in the retrosplenial cortex. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1547843182834-DBN68ZBL46SKZVA9J8U7/Science+Cover+BLA.gif Home An amygdalar neural ensemble that encodes the unpleasantness of pain Corder et al. Science. 2019 + Supplemental Materials Pain is an unpleasant experience. How the brain’s affective neural circuits attribute this aversive quality to nociceptive information remains unknown. By means of time-lapse in vivo calcium imaging and neural activity manipulation in freely behaving mice encountering noxious stimuli, we identified a distinct neural ensemble in the basolateral amygdala that encodes the negative affective valence of pain. Silencing this nociceptive ensemble alleviated pain affective-motivational behaviors without altering the detection of noxious stimuli, withdrawal reflexes, anxiety, or reward. Following peripheral nerve injury, innocuous stimuli activated this nociceptive ensemble to drive dysfunctional perceptual changes associated with neuropathic pain, including pain aversion to light touch (allodynia). These results identify the amygdalar representations of noxious stimuli that are functionally required for the negative affective qualities of acute and chronic pain perception. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1524518398112-WZJWNUOMOMRKB8846B1C/NMed+cover.png Home Loss of μ opioid receptor signaling in nociceptors, but not microglia, abrogates morphine tolerance without disrupting analgesia Corder et al. Nature Medicine 2017 (cover) Opioid pain medications have detrimental side effects including analgesic tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH). Tolerance and OIH counteract opioid analgesia and drive dose escalation. The cell types and receptors on which opioids act to initiate these maladaptive processes remain disputed, which has prevented the development of therapies to maximize and sustain opioid analgesic efficacy. We found that μ opioid receptors (MORs) expressed by primary afferent nociceptors initiate tolerance and OIH development. RNA sequencing and histological analysis revealed that MORs are expressed by nociceptors, but not by spinal microglia. Deletion of MORs specifically in nociceptors eliminated morphine tolerance, OIH and pronociceptive synaptic long-term potentiation without altering antinociception. Furthermore, we found that co-administration of methylnaltrexone bromide, a peripherally restricted MOR antagonist, was sufficient to abrogate morphine tolerance and OIH without diminishing antinociception in perioperative and chronic pain models. Collectively, our data support the idea that opioid agonists can be combined with peripheral MOR antagonists to limit analgesic tolerance and OIH. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1524518524039-JMOUD0E0WQWC8G9GC4NZ/F1.medium.gif Home Constitutive μ-Opioid Receptor Activity Leads to Long-Term Endogenous Analgesia and Dependence Corder et al. Science. 2013 (cover) Opioid receptor antagonists increase hyperalgesia in humans and animals, which indicates that endogenous activation of opioid receptors provides relief from acute pain; however, the mechanisms of long-term opioid inhibition of pathological pain have remained elusive. We found that tissue injury produced μ-opioid receptor (MOR) constitutive activity (MORCA) that repressed spinal nociceptive signaling for months. Pharmacological blockade during the posthyperalgesia state with MOR inverse agonists reinstated central pain sensitization and precipitated hallmarks of opioid withdrawal (including adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate overshoot and hyperalgesia) that required N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation of adenylyl cyclase type 1. Thus, MORCA initiates both analgesic signaling and a compensatory opponent process that generates endogenous opioid dependence. Tonic MORCA suppression of withdrawal hyperalgesia may prevent the transition from acute to chronic pain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/b29c2dc3-3fc2-4a8e-acea-a2d9a7607411/7619.jpg Home Structure-based discovery of opioid analgesics with reduced side effects Manglik et al. Nature. 2016 (cover) Morphine is an alkaloid from the opium poppy used to treat pain. The potentially lethal side effects of morphine and related opioids—which include fatal respiratory depression—are thought to be mediated by μ-opioid-receptor (μOR) signalling through the β-arrestin pathway or by actions at other receptors. Conversely, G-protein μOR signalling is thought to confer analgesia. Here we computationally dock over 3 million molecules against the μOR structure and identify new scaffolds unrelated to known opioids. Structure-based optimization yields PZM21—a potent Gi activator with exceptional selectivity for μOR and minimal β-arrestin-2 recruitment. Unlike morphine, PZM21 is more efficacious for the affective component of analgesia versus the reflexive component and is devoid of both respiratory depression and morphine-like reinforcing activity in mice at equi-analgesic doses. PZM21 thus serves as both a probe to disentangle μOR signalling and a therapeutic lead that is devoid of many of the side effects of current opioids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1524518206426-KY5SX3OZN1G1DB9S7H9L/Neuron+cover.jpg Home Functional Divergence of Delta and Mu Opioid Receptor Organization in CNS Pain Circuits Wang et al. Neuron. 2018 (cover) Cellular interactions between delta and mu opioid receptors (DORs and MORs), including heteromerization, are thought to regulate opioid analgesia. However, the identity of the nociceptive neurons in which such interactions could occur in vivoremains elusive. Here we show that DOR-MOR co-expression is limited to small populations of excitatory interneurons and projection neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn and unexpectedly predominates in ventral horn motor circuits. Similarly, DOR-MOR co-expression is rare in parabrachial, amygdalar, and cortical brain regions processing nociceptive information. We further demonstrate that in the discrete DOR-MOR co-expressing nociceptive neurons, the two receptors internalize and function independently. Finally, conditional knockout experiments revealed that DORs selectively regulate mechanical pain by controlling the excitability of somatostatin-positive dorsal horn interneurons. Collectively, our results illuminate the functional organization of DORs and MORs in CNS pain circuits and reappraise the importance of DOR-MOR cellular interactions for developing novel opioid analgesics. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/7afc8793-48ee-4a5c-a601-4e24388c0345/jneuro_45_14_cover.jpg Home - Make it stand out VTA µ-Opioidergic Neurons Facilitate Low Sociability in Protracted Opioid Abstinence Jo et al. J Neurosci. 2025 (cover) Opioids initiate dynamic maladaptation in brain reward and affect circuits that occur throughout chronic exposure and withdrawal that persist beyond cessation. Protracted abstinence is characterized by negative affective behaviors such as heightened anxiety, irritability, dysphoria, and anhedonia, which pose a significant risk factor for relapse. While the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and μ-opioid receptors (MORs) are critical for opioid reinforcement, the specific contributions of VTAMOR neurons in mediating protracted abstinence-induced negative affect is not fully understood. In our study, we elucidate the role of VTAMOR neurons in mediating negative affect and altered brain-wide neuronal activities following forced opioid exposure and abstinence in male and female mice. Utilizing a chronic oral morphine administration model, we observe increased social deficit, anxiety-related, and despair-like behaviors during protracted forced abstinence. VTAMOR neurons show heightened neuronal FOS activation at the onset of withdrawal and connect to an array of brain regions that mediate reward and affective processes. Viral re-expression of MORs selectively within the VTA of MOR knock-out mice demonstrates that the disrupted social interaction observed during protracted abstinence is facilitated by this neural population, without affecting other protracted abstinence behaviors. Lastly, VTAMORs contribute to heightened neuronal FOS activation in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in response to an acute morphine challenge, suggesting their unique role in modulating ACC-specific neuronal activity. These findings identify VTAMOR neurons as critical modulators of low sociability during protracted abstinence and highlight their potential as a mechanistic target to alleviate negative affective behaviors associated with opioid abstinence. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/f804a550-a49f-4fbd-8fc2-cb92c5162593/nat+comms+page.png Home - Make it stand out Human OPRM1 and murine Oprm1 promoter driven viral constructs for genetic access to μ-opioidergic cell types Salimando et al. Nature Communications. 2023 + Supplemental Materials + Peer Review File + Raw data + MORp purchase from Stanford Vector Core With concurrent global epidemics of chronic pain and opioid use disorders, there is a critical need to identify, target and manipulate specific cell populations expressing the mu-opioid receptor (MOR). However, available tools and transgenic models for gaining long-term genetic access to MOR+ neural cell types and circuits involved in modulating pain, analgesia and addiction across species are limited. To address this, we developed a catalog of MOR promoter (MORp) based constructs packaged into adeno-associated viral vectors that drive transgene expression in MOR+ cells. MORp constructs designed from promoter regions upstream of the mouse Oprm1 gene (mMORp) were validated for transduction efficiency and selectivity in endogenous MOR+ neurons in the brain, spinal cord, and periphery of mice, with additional studies revealing robust expression in rats, shrews, and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived nociceptors. The use of mMORp for in vivo fiber photometry, behavioral chemogenetics, and intersectional genetic strategies is also demonstrated. Lastly, a human designed MORp (hMORp) efficiently transduced macaque cortical OPRM1+ cells. Together, our MORp toolkit provides researchers cell type specific genetic access to target and functionally manipulate mu-opioidergic neurons across a range of vertebrate species and translational models for pain, addiction, and neuropsychiatric disorders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/9b79b3eb-810d-46e1-9e19-3f76ff76cae5/1.png Home - Make it stand out Engineered serum markers for non-invasive monitoring of gene expression in the brain Lee et al. Nature Biotechnology. 2024 Measurement of gene expression in the brain requires invasive analysis of brain tissue or non-invasive methods that are limited by low sensitivity. Here we introduce a method for non-invasive, multiplexed, site-specific monitoring of endogenous gene or transgene expression in the brain through engineered reporters called released markers of activity (RMAs). RMAs consist of an easily detectable reporter and a receptor-binding domain that enables transcytosis across the brain endothelium. RMAs are expressed in the brain but exit into the blood, where they can be easily measured. We show that expressing RMAs at a single mouse brain site representing approximately 1% of the brain volume provides up to a 100,000-fold signal increase over the baseline. Expression of RMAs in tens to hundreds of neurons is sufficient for their reliable detection. We demonstrate that chemogenetic activation of cells expressing Fos-responsive RMA increases serum RMA levels >6-fold compared to non-activated controls. RMAs provide a non-invasive method for repeatable, multiplexed monitoring of gene expression in the intact animal brain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/43e2c696-7b46-4641-abb1-e038da88ef2f/F8.large.jpg Home - Make it stand out AxoDen: An Algorithm for the Automated Quantification of Axonal Density in Defined Brain Regions Sandoval Ortega et al. eNeuro. 2025 The rodent brain contains 70,000,000+ neurons interconnected via complex axonal circuits with varying architectures. Neural pathologies are often associated with anatomical changes in these axonal projections and synaptic connections. Notably, axonal density variations of local and long-range projections increase or decrease as a function of the strengthening or weakening, respectively, of the information flow between brain regions. Traditionally, histological quantification of axonal inputs relied on assessing the fluorescence intensity in the brain region of interest. Despite yielding valuable insights, this conventional method is notably susceptible to background fluorescence, postacquisition adjustments, and inter-researcher variability. Additionally, it fails to account for nonuniform innervation across brain regions, thus overlooking critical data such as innervation percentages and axonal distribution patterns. In response to these challenges, we introduce AxoDen, an open-source semiautomated platform designed to increase the speed and rigor of axon quantifications for basic neuroscience discovery. AxoDen processes user-defined brain regions of interests incorporating dynamic thresholding of grayscale-transformed images to facilitate binarized pixel measurements. Here, in mice, we show that AxoDen segregates the image content into signal and nonsignal categories, effectively eliminating background interference and enabling the exclusive measurement of fluorescence from axonal projections. AxoDen provides detailed and accurate representations of axonal density and spatial distribution. AxoDen's advanced yet user-friendly platform enhances the reliability and efficiency of axonal density analysis and facilitates access to unbiased high-quality data analysis with no technical background or coding experience required. AxoDen is ad libitum available to everyone as a valuable neuroscience tool for dissecting axonal innervation patterns in precisely defined brain regions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1525136087700-UN8H6EFRCSWE7WMO4PDE/Penn_Logo_University_of_Pennsylvania.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1525069207584-I900PVRJMG00T7Q6RH5D/upenn.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1601828901011-89KM26YJJK4JXHYGW5FD/dp2+logo+shield.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1601828860587-5C0VWKYKW6W7B7H8T7KG/nigmslogo_lrg.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1578774911569-J6IIFXQNCKD8X4UEWGLZ/nida-logo.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1578774919656-VPVAR8835FFDBMIFYPXI/NIMH-Logo-600x399-600x419.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1674436775512-9V07JUL3J4DDWFOO6EEJ/ninds.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1645569387315-N6G8CSI2KUSW80H5VJW0/raf.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1597691560384-Z9LQNKLB4J9IKG11O07R/logo.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1578774937591-LDCDSA1FD6V8HAN2ZW2G/alkermes.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1578774949906-NJ1J1FUM0DBWYMJZKHRI/bbrf.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1598384134067-LWZ3U1T2655D6WAZ75CU/download.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1598383969215-6W620XK6WTLLRBSLC1J9/mindCORE_Logo_FINAL_Color-vnr8l4.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1598384312796-4SHCCZEDMZX92IM0ROKC/purm.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1752155548694-SDF5JJGK04T34HADY43D/blog_image_titos_v2-1.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1769539781906-7VB5P2WCVX6BOFRBXYV4/658351574a6a2d93c91fdf64_414ce337-eb9b-4ea0-8645-3b809a20e142.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1769540075104-M3X032JJL4KNHONF4GNI/CURF-logo-vector-large.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/fbcf8317-26eb-4a77-bcda-ea7a6b4a63dc/Mouse_VisionOPENER+%281%29.gif Home - Make it stand out How video game tech, AI, and computer vision help decode animal pain and behavior https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/f6501ecd-7312-47a6-872e-18e8fe1a16b2/p3nn+projects.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1525127751776-X4OBO2X8D60GAJGOVNPS/Untitled-4.jpg Home - xxxxx https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1525127775532-15IV544EQ06ZETWOVB9Z/okokokoko.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1525127795593-8V0EJCFFCUUFPHKFTGQC/uhuhuhuh.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1613245622033-4HMVY4U6DUGVF9OOAQ0K/corder_06_mod.jpg Home GREGORY CORDER, PH.D. LAB DIRECTOR Email // gcorder@upenn.edu Throughout the last decade, my research has aimed to uncover how brain and spinal circuits transform emotionally inert nociceptive information into an affective painful experience. Working previously with Dr. Gregory Scherrer and Dr. Mark Schnitzer at the Stanford Wu-Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and with Dr. Bradley Taylor (University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Anesthesiology) I have grounded my scientific interests in studying the fundamental properties of neural circuits, and how to best further translational efforts to develop new strategies for clinical pain relief. My group within the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania employs an expansive multidisciplinary approach to further our understanding of how brain processes give rise to perceptions and motivations. Utilizing in vivo calcium imaging, neuroanatomical tracing, mouse genetics, optical neuromanipulation, and behavioral pharmacology, my lab continues to deconstruct these dynamic neural mechanisms of pain and pleasure experiences, and the molecular remodeling effects caused by endogenous and exogenous opioids within limbic and cortical brain circuits. In addition to advancing our basic understanding of the brain and mind, the driving goal of our projects is to to improve the mental, physical, and social health of chronic pain patients. Ultimately I hope that our lab's work will facilitate advancements in therapeutic interventions to reduce the suffering and depression symptoms of pain patients, thereby lessening the necessity of prescription opioids and curtailing the ongoing Opioid Epidemic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1591722361406-II2QJFHPXVFO4DSBRAXZ/headshot.jpg Home BLAKE KIMMEY, Ph.D. POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW Email // bkimmey@pennmedicine.upenn.edu https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/bf9be251-214e-4d16-beca-02197a016dc7/1000009389.jpg Home RAQUEL ADAIA SANDOVAL ORTEGA, PH.D. POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW Email // raqueladaia.sandovalortega@pennmedicine.upenn.edu https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/c2522c40-35df-4fe5-ac99-659301980c8d/NYE_31Dec2022.jpg Home SANDRA POULSON POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW Email // sandra.poulson@pennmedicine.upenn.edu Cholesytokinin (CCK) in the brain is known as one of the anti-opioid peptides, but we're just starting to uncover the role of CCK in pain. To date the focus on CCK in pain has been in the periphery, but I’m obsessed with investigating a potential role in chronic pain for long-range CCK+ neurons of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and their many downstream targets. My previous work under Loren Martin at the University of Toronto demonstrated a role for ACC CCK+ neurons that send projections to the intermediate lateral periaqueductal gray in two different mouse models of nocebo (social and contextual). My current goal is to uncover more about the CCK system in terms of the central perception of pain and how the ACC computes, regulates, and enhances incoming nociceptive signals. The ultimate goal of this project is to give a better understanding of what drives chronic pain to broaden therapeutic options and mitigate suffering. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/0211f23e-b546-43e0-a563-c38548939c94/Lindsay%2BEjoh%2BNeuroscientist%2BPhD%2BResearcher%2BScience%2BCommunicator%2Bin%2BLab.jpg Home - Make it stand out LINDSAY EJOH GRADUATE STUDENT // Neuroscience Graduate Group Email // lejoh@pennmedicine.upenn.edu https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/2de042c1-2c0d-4b23-bb46-9b021221cb03/IMG_5195.jpg Home - Make it stand out CORINNA OSWELL GRADUATE STUDENT // Neuroscience Graduate Group https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/d71675d3-0359-4a73-9b01-fbe314670f74/IMG_0361.jpg Home - Make it stand out JACQUELINE WU LAB MANAGER // Research Specialist Email // jacqueline.wu@pennmedicine.upenn.edu I graduated from Penn in May 2024 with a degree in Biology and a minor in Anthropology. I started working in the Corder Lab in January 2023 as an undergrad and am continuing to do research here as the lab manager. Currently, my interests include drug addiction, chronic pain and neurodegenerative diseases, and I hope to pursue a graduate degree in the future to explore these topics. Outside of lab, I can be found going on coffee runs or watching dogs at the dog park. I also enjoy listening to music and singing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/4482e698-9026-4d6e-ae07-c75c074bb865/Headshot+3-min.jpg Home JUSTIN JAMES RESEARCHER I am a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (CAS ’22, Neuroscience) and currently a second-year medical student at Penn State College of Medicine. In 2020, I joined the Corder Lab as an undergraduate researcher, working closely with then-graduate student Dr. Jessica Wojick. My early research efforts, initiated during the pandemic, focused on integrating deep learning technology to advance the detection and classification of pain and analgesic behaviors. These computational advancements complemented our lab’s use of neural ensemble imaging, optogenetics, and targeted therapies for chronic pain.As I progress in my medical training, I aim to specialize in anesthesiology with a concentration in pain medicine. My ultimate goal is to become a clinician-scientist, contributing to the evolving understanding of consciousness in relation to pain and innovating drug and genetic therapies for chronic pain and substance use disorders.Outside of school and research, I am picking up learning to play golf, I enjoy playing the drums, and spending time with family and friends! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/574c007c-89e5-4fe4-aeac-163242990646/1755883246698.jpg Home - Make it stand out Leomara Swanson POSTBACCALAUREATE RESEARCHER // PennPREP Scholar Email // leomara.swanson@pennmedicine.upenn.edu I graduated from Carleton College in June 2025 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. I started working in the Corder Lab in June 2025 as a postbac researcher and PennPREP scholar. Currently, my interests include chronic pain, reproductive health, and addiction. I hope to pursue a graduate degree in the future to explore these topics. In my free time, I can be found playing board games, card games, or reading. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/1e663220-02f6-46c0-99ca-e26f7ceabf7a/IMG_6570.jpg Home - Make it stand out LILY SHANGLOO PENN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER // Neuroscience I am a sophomore at Penn intending to major in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. I joined the Corder lab in January 2024, and work as an undergraduate research assistant. In my free time, I love to read and spend time with friends and family. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/54eefde1-aba7-4356-baf6-ddd27d04d359/IMG_7277.jpg Home - Make it stand out OLIVER JOSEPH PENN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER // Neuroscience Email // oljoseph@sas.upenn.edu My name is Oliver Joseph and I am a part of the 2027 class at Penn. I am majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Healthcare Management, I plan to attend medical school after graduation. Through my time at Corder Lab as an undergraduate, I have developed a deep passion on coming up with unique and empowering ways to help people, especially those afflicted by chronic pain. I hope to continue to expand my knowledge on the field and continuing to have real impact! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/d2f2f46e-eee2-4909-8c1d-78523fce53c1/IMG_0841_Original.jpg Home - Make it stand out EMMY LI PENN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER // Neuroscience I’m a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2027, majoring in Neuroscience. I joined the Corder Lab back in January 2024. I'm particularly interested in chronic pain and its correlation to drug abuse. Beyond the lab, I’m actively involved in Penn Neuroscience Society and Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club. In my free time, I enjoy creating art through drawing and watercolor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/a46b6f0b-4ff0-487d-be38-c55fa61887db/Untitled-1-min.jpg Home - protocols https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/32f8ed15-d02e-46b2-91e7-cf2347125f26/MOR+DMS+2-Recovered.jpg Home - grants https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/18ef7180-9dde-4ad0-9606-dff18c84ba72/AAV6_ChR2_YFP_intrathecal_Adult_DRG_chGFP488_gCGRP555_chNF200647_A1L2_20x_z0_ch00.jpg Home - POsters https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5429c463e4b0f4220e808329/a77247ee-9da5-40b7-b0e3-6c41a163b6f8/2291_20x_CL_1-2_Overlay-min.jpg Home - TALKS