Amanda Pahng, PhD
Department of Physiology
Dr. Amanda Pahng’s research interests are in understanding the neurobiological and behavioral interactions of pain and drug abuse liability. Specifically, she investigates how altered signaling in reward- and pain-related circuitry contributes to excessive drug intake and hyperalgesia (heightened pain sensitivity) in the development of disease states, namely drug addiction and chronic pain. She has a particular interest in investigating clinically available non-opioid medications for the treatment of opioid misuse and pain. Her current research is focused on investigating the intersection of chronic inflammatory pain, fentanyl misuse, and fentanyl adulterants. Her work combines behavioral, pharmacological, molecular, and circuit-based approaches in animal models of opioid use disorder and chronic inflammatory pain.