University of Florida · NeuroscienceOpioid Signaling and Addiction Laboratory
Kirill A. Martemyanov · Gainesville, Florida
Research Focus
Dr. Kirill A. Martemyanov's lab at the University of Florida focuses on understanding how opioids impact brain circuitry and behavior, particularly regarding addiction and pain relief. The research investigates the molecular mechanisms that can separate the beneficial analgesic effects of opioids from their addictive properties, aiming to find new ways to prevent opioid dependence. By targeting specific neural circuits and receptors, the lab seeks to develop treatments that minimize the risk of addiction while maintaining effective pain management.
opioid signalingaddictionpain reliefneural circuitsglutamatergic signalingcell adhesion moleculesreward circuitrypharmacological targetingG-protein-coupled receptorsbehavioral assays
Research Aims
5AIM 01Develop pharmacological tools to manipulate opioid receptor signaling.
AIM 02Understand how opioids alter glutamatergic signaling in the reward circuit.
AIM 03Characterize the role of cell adhesion molecules in opioid effects.
AIM 04Investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying addictive behaviors.
AIM 05Test the effects of novel compounds on pain and addiction in rodent models.
Skills the Lab Values
electrophysiologybehavioral assayshigh-throughput screeninganimal modelsmedicinal chemistrygenetic manipulationoptogeneticscell cultureimmunohistochemistrypharmacokinetics
Output against the department
Publications280top 25% of dept.166th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations9.9ktop 41% of dept.272nd of 671
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.