R. Denis Soignier, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Applied Biopsychology Program
Research Interests
Dr. Soignier’s Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory focuses on chronic pain, pain management, and drug addiction. The research in this laboratory is true translational research – it is guided by clinical problems and directly informs clinical practice – from the bedside to the bench and back.
Dr. Soignier’s research is focused on three related issues: 1) the relationship between cognitive appraisal and outcome of pain management, 2) the research on drug interactions and 3) the appropriate use of opiate medications. Currently the lab is focused on the impact of pain on cognitive function and whether medication can improve cognition in pain states.
Clinical research is conducted in partnership with local pain specialist, where students can gain experience in psychological testing. Basic science studies are conducted in a large, on-campus laboratory and in lab space at the medical school campuses in downtown New Orleans. As a member of the Pain Research Group, and inter-university collaboration with pain researchers from LSU Health Sciences Center, Tulane Medical School and Xavier University, Dr. Soignier’s laboratory has tremendous resources including computer-controlled conditioned place preference and self administration apparati, state of the art microscopes, and protein assay equipment.
Graduates of the program are qualified for a wide variety of jobs. These range from basic science or science officer positions in the pharmaceutical industry, to members of multidisciplinary teams in pain clinics or academic careers in higher education.
Publications
Soignier, RD, Vaccarino, AL, Fanti, KA, Wilson, AM and Zadina, JE (2004). Analgesic tolerance and cross-tolerance to i.c.v. endomorphin-1, endomorphin-2 and morphine in mice. Neurosci-Lett, 366(2), 211-4
Gould, HJ 3rd, England, JD, Soignier, RD, Nolan, P Minor, LD, Lui ZP, Levinson, SR, Paul, D (2004). Ibuprophin blocks changes in Nav 1.7 and 1.8 sodium channels associated with complete freund’s adjuvant-induced inflammation in the rat. J Pain, 5(5), 270-80
Wilson, AM, Soignier, RD, Zadina, JE, Kastin, AJ, Nores, WL, Olson, RD, Olson GA (2000). Dissociation of analgesic and rewarding effects of endomorphin-1 in rats. Peptides, 21(12), 1871-4.
Soignier RD, Vaccarino, AL, Brennan, AM, Kastin, AJ, and Zadina, JE (2000). Analgesic effects of endomorphin-1 and endomorphin-2 in the formalin test in mice. Life Sci, 67(8), 907-12.
Bell RL, Soignier, RD, Olson, RD, Vaccarino, AL (1998). Reduction of stress-induced analgesia following ethanol exposure in mice. Life-Sci, 63(9), 731-6.
Vaccarino, AL, Nores, WL, Soignier, RD, Olson, RD (1997). The role of corticosterone in the blockade of tolerance to morphine analgesia by formalin-induced pain in the rat. Neurosci Lett, 232(3), 139-42.
Last modified 07/14/08
