Overview

Biography:

Ph.D., University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience, Albuquerque, NM

Postdoctoral Training: Aron Lichtman, advisor,
Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology,
Richmond, VA

Awards:

2026 Mary Abood Women in Cannabinoid Research Award, International Cannabinoid Research Society

2025, 2024 P3 Teaching Team of the Year Award Integrated Therapy and Practice V: Neurosensory/Psychiatry
Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

2024 Graduate Mentor of the Year Award, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

2023 Presidents Award Early Career Investigator, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

2019 Faculty Media Excellence Award, University of Florida College of Pharmacy

2018 Linton Poodry Advanced Leadership Institute, SACNAS

2017 Postdoctoral Scholar Award, Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Virginia Commonwealth University

2016 Mitchell Max early investigator award finalist, 11th annual NIH pain consortium symposium

2016, 2015, 2014 Monique and George Braude Travel Award International Cannabinoid Research Society

2015 Society for Neuroscience Travel Award, Virginia Society for Neuroscience

2015 Society for Neuroscience Diversity Travel Award, National Institutes on Drug Abuse

2015 Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Presentation Award, International Cannabinoid Research Society

2015 Training in Neurotherapeutics and Discovery Development Short Course, University of California, Davis/ National Institute on Neurological Diseases and Stroke

2015-2017 Ruth L. Kirschstein F32 Individual National Research Service Award, (F32DA038493)

Selected Service

2026 - Current Editor, Scientific Reports
2024 - 2028 Standing NIH study section member DMPB study section
2024 - Current Associate editor for Frontiers Pain Research
2023 - 2026 Elected Councilor; Behavioral Pharmacology Executive Committee, American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET)


Ad hoc reviewer for 28 American and international journals

Education

PHD, 2012, University of New Mexico

Curriculum Vitae

View CV

Relevant Publications

Zuarth Gonzalez, J.D.; Ragsdale, A.K.; Mukhopadhyay, S.; McCurdy, C.R.; McMahon, L.R.; Obeng, S.; Wilkerson, J.L. (2025) Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine: Bidirectional effects on breathing in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. Nov;392(11):103720. doi: 10.1016/j.jpet.2025.103720. Epub 2025 Sep 22. PMID: 41106041.

Tareq, S.; Ewida, H.A.; Zoubi, S.; Benson, H.; Patel, D.; Diab, H.; Patra, S.; Redrovan, D.; Nozohouri, E.; Bassani, T.B.; Cardoso, A.C.; Frimpong-Manson, K.; Khodavirdilou, L.; Aziz, M.T.; Wilkerson, J.L.; Thompson, J.; Bickel, U.; Chelikani. P.K.; Farag, A.; Ahmed, M.S., (2025) Discovery of pan-EphB tyrosine kinase inhibitor for metabolic syndrome sparing EphB3 signaling in mice; Pharmacol Res., Sep;219:107900. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2025.107900. Epub 2025 Aug 5. PMID: 40769385.

Ortiz, Y.T.; Nguyen, T.; Wilkerson, J.L. (2025) Antinociceptive effects of intrathecal neuropeptide B/W receptor 1 agonists in mouse acute nociception, peripheral neuropathy, and inflammatory pain models; Pharmacol Rep., doi: 10.1007/s43440-025-00761-2. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40742652

Zuarth Gonzalez, J.D.; Mottinelli, M.; McCurdy, C.R.; de Lartigue, G.; McMahon, L.R.; & Wilkerson, J.L. (2024) Mitragynine and morphine produce dose-dependent bimodal action on food but not water intake in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2024 Dec 1;327(6):R568-R579. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00128.2024. Epub 2024 Sep 9. PMID: 39250542.

Ortiz, Y.T.; Shamir, L.G.; McMahon, L.R.; & Wilkerson, J.L. (2024) Characterization of commercially available murine fibrosarcoma NCTC-2472 cells both in vitro and as a model of bone cancer pain in vivo. PLoS One. 2024 Aug 29;19(8):e0309398. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309398. PMID: 39208033; PMCID: PMC11361427.

Frimpong-Manson, K.; Ortiz, Y.T.; McMahon, l.R.; & Wilkerson, J.L. (2024) Advances in Understanding Migraine Pathophysiology: A Bench to Bedside Review of Research Insights and Therapeutics. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 17: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2024.1355281

Luque-Sanchez, K.; Felix, J.S.; Bilbrey, J.A.; Restrepo, L.; Reeves, M.; McMahon, L.R. & Wilkerson, J.L. (2023). Evaluation of novel epibatidine analogs in the rat nicotine drug discrimination assay and in the rat chronic constriction injury neuropathic pain model. Adv. Drug Alcohol Res. 3:11622. doi: 10.3389/adar.2023.11622

Ortiz, Y.T.; Bilbrey, J.A.; Felix, J.S.; Kienegger, E.A.; Mottinelli, M.; Mukhopadhyay, S.; McCurdy, C.R.; McMahon, L.R. & Wilkerson, J.L. (2023). Cannabidiol and mitragynine exhibit differential interactive effects in the attenuation of paclitaxel-induced mechanical allodynia, acute antinociception, and schedule-controlled responding in mice. Pharmacological Reports : PR, 10.1007/s43440-023-00498-w. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43440-023-00498-w

Obeng, S.; Le??n, F.; Patel, A.; Zuarth Gonzalez, J.D.; Da Silva, L.C.; Restrepo, L.F.; Gamez-Jimenez, L.R.; Ho, N.P.; Guerrero Calvache, M.P.; Pallares, V.L.; Helmes, J.A.; Shiomitsu, S.K.; Soto, P.L.; McCurdy, C.R.; McMahon, L.R.; Wilkerson, J.L.; and Hiranita, T. (2022). Interactive Effects of ??-Opioid and Adrenergic-??2 Receptor Agonists in Rats: Pharmacological Investigation of the Primary Kratom Alkaloid Mitragynine and Its Metabolite 7-Hydroxymitragynine. . J Pharmacol Exp Ther JPET-AR-2022-001192. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.122.001192 PMID: 36153006

Ortiz, Y.T.; McMahon, L.R.; and Wilkerson, J.L. (2022). Medicinal Cannabis and Central Nervous System Disorders. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 13, 881810. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.881810 PMID: 35529444

Areas Of Interest

Behavioral Pharmacology & Drug Development

Cannabinoids

Drug Abuse/Dependence

Inflammation

Natural Products

Pathological Pain

Sex differences and sex hormone implications