Paul S. Regier, PhD
Contact
Department of Psychiatry
University of Pennsylvania
3535 Market Street Suite 500
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Email: pregier@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Bio
Paul S. Regier, PhD is a Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry in the Center for Studies of Addiction. He received his BS in Psychology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. His research is focused on uncovering the underlying factors driving substance use disorder (SUD) and associated behaviors, with a primary focus on identifying potential targets for interventions to prevent relapse, improve treatment adherence, and enhance the quality of life for individuals with SUD. Central to his work is the exploration of heterogeneity within the SUD population, a theme that has been integral since his graduate studies. His graduate research involved animal models to investigate the neuropharmacological and neurophysiological mechanisms of addiction, focusing on factors like impulsiveness and neural activation differences related to drug-seeking behavior. After transitioning to human research, he now uses neuroimaging techniques to explore neural correlates and neurocognitive deficits in SUD, aiming to identify biomarkers that may predict drug-use outcomes and relapse vulnerability. His current work continues to explore heterogeneity in SUD, particularly in individuals with a history of adversity. He integrates brain imaging, neurocognitive assessments, and computational models to examine co-occurring issues like trauma, depression, and cognitive dysfunction in individuals with opioid use disorder. By combining these approaches, his research seeks to develop predictive models for treatment outcomes and identify viable neural targets for intervention, with the ultimate goal of improving therapeutic strategies for SUD.
Current Research Projects:
- K01DA056700, Regier (PI), 03/2023 to 02/2028
NIH/NIDA: Integrating brain, neurocognitive, and computational tools in Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) to characterize executive function and to predict clinical outcomes
Role: Dr. Regier is the PI - R61DA061206, Childress/Kampman (PI), 07/2024 to 06/2029
NIH/NIDA: Psilocybin: Capturing brain mechanisms of motivation and neurocognition in individuals with opioid use disorder
Role: Dr. Regier is co-I - Wellcome Leap, Childress/Kampman/Ayaz 04/2024 to 03/2027
NIH/NIDA: A Wellcome Leap for the Opioid Crisis: Can the 5HT2A agonist Psilocybin improve brain, behavioral, and clinical outcomes in opioid use disorder (OUD)
Role: Dr. Regier is co-I
Education
Bachelor of Science (Psychology): University of Nebraska at Omaha
PhD in Neuroscience: University of Minnesota
Selected Publications:
Regier PS, Gawrysiak MJ, Jagannathan K, Childress AR, Franklin TR, Wetherill RR. Trauma exposure among cannabis use disorder individuals was associated with a craving-correlated non-habituating amygdala response to aversive cues. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2022 Sep 29;5:100098. doi: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100098. PMID: 36844163; PMCID: PMC9948813.
Regier PS, Sinko L, Jagannathan K, Aryal S, Teitelman AM, Childress AR. In young women, a link between childhood abuse and subliminal processing of aversive cues is moderated by impulsivity. BMC Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 2;22(1):159. doi: 10.1186/s12888-022-03770-0. PMID: 35236322; PMCID: PMC8889687.
Yaden DB, Berghella AP, Regier PS, Garcia-Romeu A, Johnson MW, Hendricks PS. Classic psychedelics in the treatment of substance use disorder: Potential synergies with twelve-step programs. Int J Drug Policy. 2021 Dec;98:103380. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103380. Epub 2021 Jul 27. PMID: 34329952.
Regier PS, Jagannathan K, Franklin TR, Wetherill RR, Langleben DD, Gawyrsiak M, Kampman KM, Childress AR. Sustained brain response to repeated drug cues is associated with poor drug-use outcomes. Addict Biol. 2021 Sep;26(5):e13028. doi: 10.1111/adb.13028. Epub 2021 Feb 26. PMID: 33634928; PMCID: PMC9906797.
Regier PS, Kampman KM, Childress AR. Clinical Trials for Stimulant Use Disorders: Addressing Heterogeneities That May Undermine Treatment Outcomes. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2020;258:299-322. doi: 10.1007/164_2019_303. PMID: 32193666.
Regier PS, Teitelman AM, Jagannathan K, Monge ZA, McCondochie C, Elkind J, Childress AR. Women at Greater Sexual Risk for STIs/HIV Have a Lower Mesolimbic and Affective Bias Response to Sexual Stimuli. Front Behav Neurosci. 2020 Jan 10;13:279. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00279. PMID: 31998091; PMCID: PMC6965060.
Ramey T, Regier PS. Cognitive impairment in substance use disorders. CNS Spectr. 2019 Feb;24(1):102-113. doi: 10.1017/S1092852918001426. Epub 2018 Dec 28. PMID: 30591083; PMCID: PMC6599555.
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