PAIN Lab

The Pain and Addiction Interaction Neurosciences (PAIN) Lab @YalePsych seeks to develop new approaches for understanding & treating chronic pain and addiction

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

🚨 We're hiring!

The @PainLaboratory at @YalePsych is recruiting a #postdoc in #pain & #addiction neuropsychopharmacology.

Human lab studies of #cannabinoids & #psychedelics:
pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, psychophysics, clinical trials. PhD/MD.

https://t.co/jNBR4Di1zf

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

Does #cannabis co-use make quitting #tobacco harder? Our new meta-analysis of 18 studies (N=229K) found 25% lower odds of tobacco cessation among people who use cannabis.

But targeted modulation of the endocannabinoid system may be a different story.

Now in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews:

https://t.co/RKaTB1VxyY

[The College on Problems of Drug Dependence @CPDDorg]

Inspired from The Real World of Addiction Specialty Track at #CPDD26 - DAD is seeking papers for a special issue focused on designing translational addiction science that better reflects patients, real-world settings, and meaningful outcomes.

https://t.co/XaGrNn7v2N

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

Excited to speak with stellar colleagues at the #USASP2026 Annual Scientific Meeting (March 23–26, Philadelphia)!

Join us!
In Person: https://t.co/VCTm0yN9FE
Or Virtually: https://t.co/kH5xRNBp9I

Looking forward to a great discussion at the #pain–#addiction interface.

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

New paper out in Molecular Psychiatry!

Huge congratulations to first author @Gabriel_PACosta for leading this #translational systematic review & meta-analysis on #endocannabinoid modulation in #alcohol use disorder.

Proud of this team effort.

https://t.co/rXAra9GAPc

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

Pleased to share this recent @IASPpain Journal Club featuring our @RAPMOnline systematic review and meta-analysis on buprenorphine versus full agonist #opioids for acute postoperative #pain management.

Watch here:

https://t.co/oT0cdMfR0F

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

Is once-daily #methadone enough to manage #pain among patients with #OUD?

Using quantitative sensory testing (#QST), we show evidence of greater pain sensitivity just before the next methadone dose—suggesting an inter-dose “hyperalgesic window.”

https://t.co/3zLtlYV8cy

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

🚨New in @npp_journal:

We used an opioid-withholding human lab model to ask not just whether #CBD affects pain, but when—across the #methadone dosing cycle in people with co-occurring #OUD + chronic #pain. Effects were dose- and phase-dependent.

https://t.co/QdGZNBEdd8

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

Glad to have joined the @ASAMorg Beyond the Abstract #podcast to discuss our paper in the Journal of Addiction Medicine.

Among patients on #methadone, greater childhood trauma tracked with worse #pain, more #alcohol use, and earlier #cannabis initiation.

https://t.co/URpyXhycUg

@YaleADM @YalePsych @USASP_SubUseSIG

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

Excited to share our paper in @npp_journal with my postdoc @Gabriel_PACosta.

As #cannabis use rises among #OlderAdults, #aging may recalibrate benefits and harms—sometimes in counterintuitive ways.

We need age-, route-, and outcome-specific evidence.

https://t.co/lGkBGdeMbO

@YalePsych @YaleADM

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

Excited to see my lab’s recent work by @Gabriel_PACosta featured in @PsyPost.

In controlled lab studies, we found that recent cannabis exposure was associated with greater aversive responses to higher-dose nicotine.

https://t.co/qxa7oT9UXQ

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

Thrilled to see our @PainLaboratory postdoc @Gabriel_PACosta selected for the 2027 @ACNPorg Near-Peer Mentorship Program!

Very well deserved, and I’m excited to continue supporting your growth and all that lies ahead.

Congratulations!

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

New R01 from NIAAA! The @PainLaboratory will build a human laboratory model of how #alcohol shapes pain in co-occurring AUD and chronic #pain.

Alcohol dulls pain as blood levels rise; pain rebounds as they fall — a cycle that may drive drinking. This study advances a platform to test novel treatments for both.

[Joao P. De Aquino, M.D. @JPDeAquinoMD]

New NCCIH R61/R33! The @PainLaboratory will test if #psilocybin helps people with chronic low back #pain benefit more from physical therapy.

When pain signals danger, movement is avoided. We'll study whether psilocybin shifts that.

Grateful to @GaylordHealth and to our team!