Robert Gereau
@robgereau.bsky.social
Neuroscientist studying chronic pain. Vice Chair for Research at
@WashUMedicine. Director of the WashU Pain Center. Cofounder NeuroLux Inc.
@WashUMedicine. Director of the WashU Pain Center. Cofounder NeuroLux Inc.
#NIHfunding via the HEAL initiative for the PRECISION Human Pain Network has yielded a massive increase in data on human sensory neurons. One of the most amazing collaborations I've been part of. Data sharing across 4 centers, insights from experts across the network that really moved the needle.
The BIG DRG paper is now up on @biorxiv-neursci.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... so many people worked so hard to make this happen. Props to the whole PRECISION Human Pain Network.
A Reference Atlas of the Human Dorsal Root Ganglion
Somatosensory perception largely emerges from diverse peripheral sensory neurons whose cell bodies reside in dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Damage or dysfunction of DRG neurons is a major cause of chronic...
www.biorxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 8:17 PM
#NIHfunding via the HEAL initiative for the PRECISION Human Pain Network has yielded a massive increase in data on human sensory neurons. One of the most amazing collaborations I've been part of. Data sharing across 4 centers, insights from experts across the network that really moved the needle.
The end of an era as these 3 colleagues finish their tenure in the lab. Each the product of supportive programs to help them launch their journey and now off to med school, postdoc and grad school. Will miss you all but super excited for your future. Jakayla, Bobbie, Alexa - Go get em.
July 2, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The end of an era as these 3 colleagues finish their tenure in the lab. Each the product of supportive programs to help them launch their journey and now off to med school, postdoc and grad school. Will miss you all but super excited for your future. Jakayla, Bobbie, Alexa - Go get em.
Reposted by Robert Gereau
First time we’ve had the honor of the @dallasmorningnews.bsky.social writing about our scientific discoveries, funded by the #NIH www.dallasnews.com/news/2025/05...
UTD scientists solve 100-year-old mystery behind diabetic nerve damage
Nageotte nodules, once overlooked, may hold the key to understanding and treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
www.dallasnews.com
May 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
First time we’ve had the honor of the @dallasmorningnews.bsky.social writing about our scientific discoveries, funded by the #NIH www.dallasnews.com/news/2025/05...
Excited to introduce Dr. Bobbie Brown, who happens to be our lab’s PhD #15. With co-mentor Bryan Copits.
May 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Excited to introduce Dr. Bobbie Brown, who happens to be our lab’s PhD #15. With co-mentor Bryan Copits.
Send good vibes to our colleagues at NIH folks.
April 1, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Send good vibes to our colleagues at NIH folks.
Reposted by Robert Gereau
BOOM! Human DRG patch-seq with Nav1.8 and Nav1.7 upregulation associated with a history pain in organ donors. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Great stuff from the #PRECISIONPain Center at WashU led by @robgereau.bsky.social
Human sensory neurons exhibit cell-type-specific, pain-associated differences in intrinsic excitability and expression of SCN9A and SCN10A
Despite the prevalence of chronic pain, the approval of novel, non-opioid therapeutics has been slow. A major translational challenge in analgesic development is the difference in gene expression and ...
www.biorxiv.org
March 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
BOOM! Human DRG patch-seq with Nav1.8 and Nav1.7 upregulation associated with a history pain in organ donors. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Great stuff from the #PRECISIONPain Center at WashU led by @robgereau.bsky.social
Reposted by Robert Gereau
Science is under threat in the US. @elife.bsky.social have commissioned a series of articles discussing the implications and what we can do. The first three articles are now live. More to follow:
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Science Under Threat in the United States: How scientists and institutions should respond
Individual researchers and university leaders need to make the case for science to their elected representatives and to the public at large.
elifesciences.org
March 25, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Science is under threat in the US. @elife.bsky.social have commissioned a series of articles discussing the implications and what we can do. The first three articles are now live. More to follow:
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
elifesciences.org/articles/106...
Reposted by Robert Gereau
New work from the lab published at @cp-neuron.bsky.social. In this study we dissect the role of hormonal regulation in pain-induced enhanced opioid intake in males.
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Estradiol protects against pain-facilitated fentanyl use via suppression of opioid-evoked dopamine activity in males
Higginbotham et al. show that inflammatory pain increases opioid-evoked dopamine neuron
activity to promote fentanyl use selectively in males. Ovarian hormones offer females
protection, but estradiol’...
www.cell.com
March 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
New work from the lab published at @cp-neuron.bsky.social. In this study we dissect the role of hormonal regulation in pain-induced enhanced opioid intake in males.
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Work conducted by the super talented @jessinbotham
www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...
Reposted by Robert Gereau
Opioids remain a common treatment for chronic pain — but at a cost. Now, scientists at WashU Medicine and Stanford University have developed a pain-relieving compound that mimics cannabis' benefits without the mind-altering side effects or risk of addiction. medicine.washu.edu/news/compoun...
Compound harnesses cannabis’ pain-relieving properties without side effects | WashU Medicine
Mouse study points to an effective alternative to opioids
medicine.washu.edu
March 5, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Opioids remain a common treatment for chronic pain — but at a cost. Now, scientists at WashU Medicine and Stanford University have developed a pain-relieving compound that mimics cannabis' benefits without the mind-altering side effects or risk of addiction. medicine.washu.edu/news/compoun...
Excited to present the result of a fantastic collaborative effort - funded by the National Institutes of Health, including the NIH HEAL Initiative, to develop safer analgesic drugs. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A cryptic pocket in CB1 drives peripheral and functional selectivity - Nature
A peripherally restricted CB1 agonist (VIP36) targeting a cryptic receptor pocket was developed, showing high efficacy in mouse pain models with minimal side effects and tolerance, potentially revolut...
www.nature.com
March 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Excited to present the result of a fantastic collaborative effort - funded by the National Institutes of Health, including the NIH HEAL Initiative, to develop safer analgesic drugs. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
a bit of good news - thak you @jeremymberg.bsky.social for all of the information and insights!
Study Section meetings actually announced in the Federal Register today!
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...
Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings
Search, browse and learn about the Federal Register. Federal Register 2.0 is the unofficial daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as e...
www.federalregister.gov
March 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
a bit of good news - thak you @jeremymberg.bsky.social for all of the information and insights!
Reposted by Robert Gereau
NIH indirects case update:
Hearing ongoing now, and I'll try to live tweet some notable exchanges.
Prior to more detailed arguments, Judge Kelley starts off with a few point questions to both sides:
(I'm paraphrasing here)
Hearing ongoing now, and I'll try to live tweet some notable exchanges.
Prior to more detailed arguments, Judge Kelley starts off with a few point questions to both sides:
(I'm paraphrasing here)
February 21, 2025 at 3:19 PM
NIH indirects case update:
Hearing ongoing now, and I'll try to live tweet some notable exchanges.
Prior to more detailed arguments, Judge Kelley starts off with a few point questions to both sides:
(I'm paraphrasing here)
Hearing ongoing now, and I'll try to live tweet some notable exchanges.
Prior to more detailed arguments, Judge Kelley starts off with a few point questions to both sides:
(I'm paraphrasing here)
Reposted by Robert Gereau
Check out the scientific journey behind the newest FDA-approved pain medication! 💊 Learn how NIH-funded research played a crucial role—both directly and indirectly—in bringing this breakthrough to life. 🧪
I have been trying to find the time to move away from the polical hellscape we find ourselves in to finish and share a bluetorial about science.
This helps me remember what this is all about.
Ironically, it is about the treatment of pain.
This helps me remember what this is all about.
Ironically, it is about the treatment of pain.
the word irony is written on a white background
ALT: the word irony is written on a white background
media.tenor.com
February 22, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Check out the scientific journey behind the newest FDA-approved pain medication! 💊 Learn how NIH-funded research played a crucial role—both directly and indirectly—in bringing this breakthrough to life. 🧪
Threats to science abound. It's been hard for everyone - but the energy in the lab today is incredible. Scientists brainstorming projects, pouring over exciting new data, companies vying to acquire licensing rights to patents we have for potential new #chronicpain treatments. So inspired by our team
February 21, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Threats to science abound. It's been hard for everyone - but the energy in the lab today is incredible. Scientists brainstorming projects, pouring over exciting new data, companies vying to acquire licensing rights to patents we have for potential new #chronicpain treatments. So inspired by our team
Reposted by Robert Gereau
🚨 SAVE THE DATE! 🚨
2nd edition of the St. Louis Translational Pain Research Forum!
a joint effort between SLU, WashU and UHSP
🗓 Sept 26-27, 2025
🎤 Keynote: Dr. Cheryl Stucky
💡 Plenary: Dr. Patrick Dougherty
Register now ->🔗 stl-tprf2023.my.canva.site/stl-tprf2025
#PainResearch #Neuroskyience
2nd edition of the St. Louis Translational Pain Research Forum!
a joint effort between SLU, WashU and UHSP
🗓 Sept 26-27, 2025
🎤 Keynote: Dr. Cheryl Stucky
💡 Plenary: Dr. Patrick Dougherty
Register now ->🔗 stl-tprf2023.my.canva.site/stl-tprf2025
#PainResearch #Neuroskyience
February 3, 2025 at 9:59 PM
🚨 SAVE THE DATE! 🚨
2nd edition of the St. Louis Translational Pain Research Forum!
a joint effort between SLU, WashU and UHSP
🗓 Sept 26-27, 2025
🎤 Keynote: Dr. Cheryl Stucky
💡 Plenary: Dr. Patrick Dougherty
Register now ->🔗 stl-tprf2023.my.canva.site/stl-tprf2025
#PainResearch #Neuroskyience
2nd edition of the St. Louis Translational Pain Research Forum!
a joint effort between SLU, WashU and UHSP
🗓 Sept 26-27, 2025
🎤 Keynote: Dr. Cheryl Stucky
💡 Plenary: Dr. Patrick Dougherty
Register now ->🔗 stl-tprf2023.my.canva.site/stl-tprf2025
#PainResearch #Neuroskyience
A big day for pain care, and for pain science. www.fda.gov/news-events/...
FDA Approves Novel Non-Opioid Treatment for Moderate to Severe Acute Pain
The FDA approved Journavx (suzetrigine) 50 mg oral tablets, a first-in-class non-opioid analgesic to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults.
www.fda.gov
January 30, 2025 at 11:36 PM
A big day for pain care, and for pain science. www.fda.gov/news-events/...
science-ing is amazing these days.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Resolving native GABAA receptor structures from the human brain - Nature
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of native type A GABA receptors from human brain reveal diverse subunit compositions, protein binding partners and binding sites for antiepileptic drugs.
www.nature.com
January 23, 2025 at 11:52 PM
science-ing is amazing these days.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Robert Gereau
I just reached out to my senators about the NIH situation. If you need to find out how much impact NIH has in your state in terms of dollars in and their economic impact here's a link: www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
NIH In Your State - United For Medical Research
Select a state on the map to see the impact of NIH funding across America.
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org
January 22, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I just reached out to my senators about the NIH situation. If you need to find out how much impact NIH has in your state in terms of dollars in and their economic impact here's a link: www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
Fantastic work here. A real boost to the KCC2 modulator concept, providing very encouraging validation in human subjects. Ted, Yves, Mike and teams!
Very excited to share our new preprint: "Decreased KCC2 expression in the human spinal dorsal horn associated with chronic pain and long-term opioid use" led by @oliviadavis.bsky.social and Samuel Ferland, a collab between us, Yves De Koninck and Mike Hildebrand labs www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Decreased KCC2 expression in the human spinal dorsal horn associated with chronic pain and long-term opioid use
Loss of GABAergic and glycinergic inhibitory efficacy in the spinal dorsal horn is associated with neuropathic pain and opioid-induced hyperalgesia in rodent models. Downregulation of the KCC2 chlorid...
www.biorxiv.org
January 20, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Fantastic work here. A real boost to the KCC2 modulator concept, providing very encouraging validation in human subjects. Ted, Yves, Mike and teams!
Reposted by Robert Gereau
If you could only read one article about chronic pain read this #painresearch
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/12/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/12/m...
Chronic Pain Afflicts Billions of People. It’s Time for a Revolution.
As many as two billion people suffer from it — including me. Can science finally bring us relief?
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2025 at 12:51 PM
If you could only read one article about chronic pain read this #painresearch
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/12/m...
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/12/m...
There's our very own @julietmwirigi.bsky.social from @washumedicine.bsky.social and the WashU Pain Center.
Meet the newly named hashtag#HannaGrayFellows! 👋
“HHMI is committed to investing in scientists who dare to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our lifetime,” said HHMI Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer @leslievosshall.bsky.social
“HHMI is committed to investing in scientists who dare to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our lifetime,” said HHMI Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer @leslievosshall.bsky.social
Meet the 2024 HannaGrayFellows!
YouTube video by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
youtu.be
January 10, 2025 at 11:27 PM
There's our very own @julietmwirigi.bsky.social from @washumedicine.bsky.social and the WashU Pain Center.