Benjamin Reiner

Neuroscientist/Geneticist/Bioinformatician | Research Assistant Professor @PennPsych @PennMedicine

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

TLDR, cocaine self-administration was associated with parallel, cell type-specific NAc programs that prioritize MSN subtypes and astrocytes for mechanistic and manipulation studies.

Team effort with Heath Schmidt, @RickCrist6, @snchehimi, Riley Merkel, et al.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

The response extended beyond D1 Ebf1+ cells. D2 Stk32a+ and D1 Ppm1e+ MSNs carried substantial, largely distinct DEG programs. This moves us beyond a simple D1-vs-D2 framework and points to both matrix- and striosome-associated populations.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

Importantly, "activated" and "transcriptionally active" were not equivalent. D1 Ebf1+ MSNs and astrocytes showed both, oligodendrocytes showed an IEG increase without large DEG burden, while D2 Stk32a+ and D1 Ppm1e+ MSNs showed the opposite.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

D1 Ebf1+ MSN stood out with ~40% of all differential-expression events, higher immediate-early gene scores, and the strongest transcription-factor and microRNA-target enrichment.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

New preprint from our team! What happens across the nucleus accumbens (NAc) when rats voluntarily take cocaine?

Using snRNA-seq, we find that the response is not uniform and it concentrates in discrete medium spiny neuron subtypes and astrocytes.
https://t.co/ZopVdB4nKq

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

These neuronal cell types align with our prior NAc medium spiny neuron (MSN) atlas.
https://t.co/mmkN1E7PC8

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

After QC and FDR correction, we detected 478 cocaine-associated differential-expression events, with the majority in four populations:
• D1 Ebf1+ MSNs: 192 (~40%)
• D2 Stk32a+ MSNs: 78
• Astrocytes: 72
• D1 Ppm1e+ MSNs: 44

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

Here, male and female rats self-administered IV cocaine for 10 days, with yoked controls receiving matched infusions of saline. Animals were sacrificed immediately after the final session, allowing us to examine immediate early gene and broader transcriptional programs.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

Why this matters: cocaine use disorder still has no FDA-approved medication. The NAc is central to reinforcement and drug seeking and prior transcriptomics efforts used bulk sequencing that averaged effects across neuronal and non-neuronal populations.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

I'm really proud to be a part of such an outstanding scientific achievement by four amazing scientific teams, and greatful to @FlyBottleEscape for spearheading this effort.

[⚡️GREG_CORDER⚡️ @FlyBottleEscape]

🧠⚡️💊New @Nature publication !

Mimicking opioid analgesia in cortical pain circuits

We built a brain-behavior framework to decode spontaneous chronic pain in mice—and to biologically mimic morphine with a synthetic opioid gene therapy

https://t.co/YqvBzdEqEL

@PennMedicine

[⚡️GREG_CORDER⚡️ @FlyBottleEscape]

🧠⚡️💊New @Nature publication !

Mimicking opioid analgesia in cortical pain circuits

We built a brain-behavior framework to decode spontaneous chronic pain in mice—and to biologically mimic morphine with a synthetic opioid gene therapy

https://t.co/YqvBzdEqEL

@PennMedicine

[The Yttri Lab @YttriLab]

Hot off the @Nature press! A-SOiD behavior library developed specifically for pain studies quantifies a new chemogenetic gene therapy that targets opioid circuit in ACC without addictive properties
@FlyBottleEscape @CmuScience @cmuneurosci
https://t.co/81jphkV5dk

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

I'm at @nanopore London Calling 2025. Tune into the Epitranscriptomics session and Single Cell workflow session to see two talks about our exciting use of #PromethION sequencing for psychiatric disease and substance abuse research.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

An outstanding discussion of potential term economic outcomes through the lense dollar valuation, debt financing, and fiscal expenditure. Really worth the hour.

[Darius Dale @DariusDale42]

What Must Be Done To Prevent @DOGE From Failing

@42Macro founder and CEO joined FFTT founder and president @LukeGromen to discuss their latest thoughts on the US’ fiscal crisis, what must be done to fix it, and how the various scenarios are likely to impact investor portfolios.

People close to @elonmusk and @VivekGRamaswamy will be doing a great service to America if they get them to watch this video.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

@PauloMacro Restaurant R'evolution. We were there two weeks ago and had an outstanding meal.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

With @RickCrist6 at Education Day of @ISPGnet #WCPG2024. Looking forward to a great conference.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

Our 23 hour journey to @ISPGnet 2024 World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics begins! #psychiatry #genetics

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

We have had our @nanopore P2solo instruments for one year and have been able to generate volumes of exciting data. Tomorrow, I'll be describing our long read single cell work looking at preclinical depression treatment models.

[Benjamin Reiner @DrBenReiner]

Today we are attending the @10xGenomics Philly user group meeting. The new/upcoming assays offer exciting advances in #singlecell, especially in the isoform resolved space.