Research Interests
The Liu-Chen Lab studies kappa opioid receptor (KOR) activators, potential pain relievers that may avoid the adverse side effects of traditional opioids. While KOR agonists can offer promise, they also cause unwanted effects like dysphoria, sedation, and hallucinations. The lab aims to elucidate the brain mechanisms underlying both the beneficial and harmful effects of KOR activators. Their research focuses on identifying KOR agonists with reduced side effects and characterizing KOR’s role in brain circuits. Utilizing advanced genetic and behavioral tools, the lab seeks to comprehensively understand KOR’s functions in the brain.
Education, Training & Credentials
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- MS, University of Minnesota (Mayo Clinic), Rochester, MN
- BS, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan