Brian Ruyle

The primary focus of my postdoctoral work is to examine neural mechanisms underlying opioid-induced respiratory depression. Specifically, I am interested in determining whether repeated opioid self-administration produces dysfunction within central respiratory nuclei. A secondary focus is to determine examine the connections between the nuclei of the mesolimbic reward pathway nuclei and cardiorespiratory nuclei in the brainstem and hypothalamus. My research aims to bridge the gap between the mesolimbic reward pathway and central respiratory networks and determine whether impairment in these central networks occurs during conditions of opioid abuse.

I received my PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Missouri. My graduate work examined the arterial chemoreflex neurocircuitry. I evaluated the role of a hypothalamic projection to the brainstem and determined that this pathway is critical for driving appropriate autonomic and cardiorespiratory responses to peripheral chemoreflex activation.

Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, listening to music, and playing the guitar.