Texas A&M University-College Station · PhysiologyToney Opioid Lab
Glenn M Toney · College Station, Texas
Research Focus
The research lab led by Dr. Glenn M. Toney at Texas A&M University focuses on understanding how sleep apnea affects the body’s response to opioids, particularly the dangerous respiratory depression that can occur with opioid use. By investigating the role of oxytocin, a hormone that may help balance this response, the lab aims to develop new therapeutic strategies to make opioid use safer for patients with sleep apnea. Their work is critical for addressing public health issues related to opioid overdoses among vulnerable populations.
oxytocinopioid-induced respiratory depressionsleep apneapain managementneurotransmissionopioid hypersensitivityfentanylrespiratory neurons
Research Aims
5AIM 01Identify the mechanisms by which oxytocin affects opioid-induced respiratory depression.
AIM 02Investigate the role of endogenous opioids in sleep apnea patients and their response to opioids.
AIM 03Test the effects of oxytocin receptor signaling on respiratory neurons during opioid exposure.
AIM 04Model the impact of chronic intermittent hypoxia on neuronal response to opioids in mice.
AIM 05Develop new therapeutic approaches to mitigate opioid hypersensitivity in sleep apnea patients.
Skills the Lab Values
animal modelschemical signalingopioid receptor analysisneurophysiology techniquesmouse modelspharmacological interventionsimmunohistochemistryWestern blottingoptogeneticschemogenetics
Output against the department
Publications169top 43% of dept.122nd of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.0kbottom 34% of dept.188th of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.