GREGORY CORDER, PH.D.
LAB DIRECTOR
Email // gcorder@upenn.edu
Throughout the last decade, my research has aimed to uncover how brain and spinal circuits transform emotionally inert nociceptive information into an affective painful experience. Working previously with Dr. Gregory Scherrer and Dr. Mark Schnitzer at the Stanford Wu-Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and with Dr. Bradley Taylor (University of Pittsburgh, Dept. of Anesthesiology) I have grounded my scientific interests in studying the fundamental properties of neural circuits, and how to best further translational efforts to develop new strategies for clinical pain relief.
My group within the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania employs an expansive multidisciplinary approach to further our understanding of how brain processes give rise to perceptions and motivations. Utilizing in vivo calcium imaging, neuroanatomical tracing, mouse genetics, optical neuromanipulation, and behavioral pharmacology, my lab continues to deconstruct these dynamic neural mechanisms of pain and pleasure experiences, and the molecular remodeling effects caused by endogenous and exogenous opioids within limbic and cortical brain circuits.
In addition to advancing our basic understanding of the brain and mind, the driving goal of our projects is to to improve the mental, physical, and social health of chronic pain patients. Ultimately I hope that our lab's work will facilitate advancements in therapeutic interventions to reduce the suffering and depression symptoms of pain patients, thereby lessening the necessity of prescription opioids and curtailing the ongoing Opioid Epidemic.
BLAKE KIMMEY, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Email // bkimmey@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
GREGORY SALIMANDO, PH.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Email // Gregory.Salimando.@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
JESSICA WOJICK
GRADUATE STUDENT // Biology Graduate Group
Email // jwojick@sas.upenn.edu
I am a doctoral candidate in the Corder lab interested in the cellular mechanisms underlying comorbid depression in chronic pain. I am particularly interested in understanding how neural circuits that are responsible for the emotionally aversive aspect of pain may interfere with the functioning of neural circuits that process rewarding and pleasurable experiences. Trained as an undergraduate in behavioral neuroscience techniques, I am now using molecular and cellular techniques to manipulate pain and emotional behavior.
I completed my Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, while working in the Sved laboratory, where I studied the behavioral effects of nicotine and other cigarette chemicals on rat consummatory behavior. After graduating, I first worked as a laboratory technician at the University of Florida, where I developed Salmonella vector vaccines against multiple bacterial and viral diseases. Next, I worked at Vanderbilt University in the digital histology core, where I helped develop a pipeline for multiplex immunohistochemistry. I am passionate about outreach and science communication and in my free time, I volunteer at the Franklin Institute, a local science museum.
My non-science passions include my family, traveling, baking, singing, and my pets.
LISA WOOLDRIDGE
GRADUATE STUDENT // Neuroscience Graduate Group
I am a graduate student in the Corder Lab and the Neuroscience Graduate Group interested in the effects of opioid exposure on the neural circuitry involved in affect and cognition.
After earning my BA in neuroscience from Middlebury College in 2016, I worked for three years as a research technician in the Preclinical Pharmacology research program at McLean Hospital, where I helped develop behavioral models to evaluate novel pharmacological treatments for affective disorders.
In my free time, I can mostly be found trying new recipes, biking, hiking, and singing very old obscure music with the Penn Collegium Musicum.
LINDSAY EJOH
GRADUATE STUDENT // Neuroscience Graduate Group
SOPHIE ROGERS
GRADUATE STUDENT // Neuroscience Graduate Group
Email // sophie.rogers@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
ADRIENNE JO
GRADUATE STUDENT // PHARMACOLOGY GRADUATE GROUP
Email // ajo97@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
I am a Pharmacology PhD Candidate in the Corder & Blendy labs who is interested in opioid-induced reward circuitry using neuroanatomical tracing and behavioral pharmacology. Previously, I assessed the role of orexin neuropeptide activity in mediating sex differences in morphine reward in the Bhatnagar Lab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Outside of the lab, I have actively supported Philadelphia-based life sciences bioentrepreneurship by leading the Philadelphia Chapter of Nucleate, a student-led non-profit global organization that facilitates the formation of academic-based life sciences ventures. Moreover, I am highly fascinated by psychedelic-based academic research and believe that these compounds are set to revolutionize our treatment paradigms in a myriad of CNS disorders.
CORINNA OSWELL
GRADUATE STUDENT // NEUROSCIENCE GRADUATE GROUP
MALAIKA MAHMOOD
LAB MANAGER // RESEARCH SPECIALIST
I am a TEDx Speaker and recent graduate from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in chemistry. As a Research Specialist in the Corder Lab, I am in charge of managing all lab related businesses and am also heavily involved in many of the projects. My goal is to pursue a PhD in neuroscience in hopes to shape the way we think about the brain. Throughout my undergraduate career I was heavily invested in research. I worked in Dr. David Salas-de la Cruz’s lab, where I developed a proposal to create a novel implantable scaffold that adapts to numerous environments in the body. This experience inspired me to pursue my own questions, and led me to take a unique research course. My project aimed to understand the mechanism behind cannabidiol (CBD) driving it’s anecdotal claims to provide pain relief. I specifically observed adenosine receptors, in Drosophila, due to their involvement in nociception. Gaining these experiences, I joined Dr. Victoria Abraira’s lab where I successfully defended my Honors Thesis which validated our lab’s machine vision approach to automatically analyze locomotion in spinal cord injured mice. Aside from academics, I enjoy being involved in outreach, traveling, and exploring all forms of art and design.
JUSTIN JAMES
RESEARCHER
JULIANN CHIU
PENN UNDERGRAD RESEARCHER
I am a part of Penn’s class of 2024, majoring in Neuroscience. After receiving my bachelor degree, I plan on attending medical school with the intent of specializing in psychiatry. I joined the Corder Lab this Summer 2022 and am currently working on projects as an undergraduate assistant. I’m highly interested in affective disorders—such as depression—and the effects chronic pain presents. In addition, I am hoping to learn more about the correlation between chronic pain and drug abuse. Outside of the lab, I participate in clubs like the Neuroscience Society, and in my free time, I enjoy staying active, particularly by going to the gym and practicing judo.
LAB ALUMNI
Nora McCall - 2019 - 2022, Postdoc, F32 & T32 — Current: Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
Emily Lo - 2019 - 2022, Penn Senior Independent Researcher + PURM Scholar
Meghan Wachira - 2021 - 2022, Penn Genomics Postbac
Corinna Oswell - 2021, Penn Neuroscience Rotation
Morgan Kindel - 2021, Penn Neuroscience Rotation
Joe Stucynski - 2021, Penn Neuroscience Rotation
Simay Ipek - 2020, Undergraduate Researcher
Angelina Heyler - 2019, Penn PURM Scholar
Shivanki Juneja - 2019 - 2020, Penn Senior Independent Researcher