Stanford University · BiophysicsOpioid Pathways Lab
Ruth Huttenhain · Stanford, California
Research Focus
Dr. Huttenhain's lab studies the mu-opioid receptor (MOR), a key player in pain relief and addiction. By investigating how MOR interacts with different signaling pathways and its location within cells, they aim to discover safer pain management strategies with fewer side effects. Using advanced techniques such as proteomics and CRISPR, the lab seeks to identify new molecular targets that could lead to better treatments for pain and opioid addiction.
mu-opioid receptorproteomicsopioid addictionpain managementsignaling pathwaysCRISPRbiochemical networksstem cell research
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how mu-opioid receptor signaling is affected by its location in the cell.
AIM 02Identify molecular regulators that affect the mu-opioid receptor pathways.
AIM 03Utilize CRISPR technology to conduct genetic screens related to opioid receptor biology.
AIM 04Explore how different ligands influence mu-opioid receptor interactions and signaling.
AIM 05Develop therapeutic strategies to improve pain management and reduce opioid addiction risk.
Skills the Lab Values
proteomicsCRISPR interferencereporter assaysmass spectrometryphosphoproteomicscell culturegenetic screeningdata integrationbioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications77bottom 20% of dept.8th of 10
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations13ktop 20% of dept.2nd of 10
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.