University of California-San Francisco · NeuroscienceHarwell Lab
Corey C Harwell · San Francisco, California
Research Focus
Dr. Corey C. Harwell's lab focuses on understanding the development and function of specific neurons in the septal complex of the brain, which plays a key role in social behavior and emotional regulation. The lab investigates how early life exposure to opioids can lead to long-term changes in brain function and contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders. By analyzing the molecular pathways and cellular adaptations in these neurons, the research aims to uncover potential therapeutic targets for treating conditions like anxiety and depression.
septal complexopioid exposureneurodevelopmentneuropsychiatric disordersmolecular pathwayscellular adaptationstressemotional regulationneural circuits
Research Aims
4AIM 01Identify the genetic and molecular pathways involved in the development of diverse septal neuron types.
AIM 02Characterize how early life opioid exposure affects septal neuron function and behavioral outcomes.
AIM 03Investigate the neural circuits in the septal complex connected to emotional regulation and anxiety.
AIM 04Determine the long-term impacts of prenatal opioid exposure on brain development and function.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelsgene expression analysisoptogeneticselectrophysiologygenetic manipulationcell culturebehavioral assaystissue processingimmunohistochemistry
Output against the department
Publications46bottom 10% of dept.607th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.5kbottom 9% of dept.612th 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.