Ph.D Candidate at University of Washington Neuroscience, expected defense June 2020

Research Statement

I trained as a neuroscientist at the University of Washington, where I studied how stress and drugs of abuse alter motivational brain circuitry. My dissertation focused on kappa opioid receptor antagonists, a class of novel anti-addiction therapeutics, and their effects on dopamine neurons. I investigated how these drugs function under stress, how their effects vary with sex hormones (such as across the menstrual cycle), and how their impact differs based on their brain region targets. This research informs the development of next-generation therapeutics and treatment strategies for mental health and substance use disorders.

Working as a program officer at NINDS required me to stay on top of my scientific portfolio and remain up to date with the latest advancements in health equity research. My work focused on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, pain research, and treatments addressing the intersection of chronic pain and opioid misuse. I regularly engaged with the literature on health equity research methodologies and novel health services approaches to reducing disparities in overdose, pain, and neurological disease. This included supporting the launch of the first NINDS Health Equity Research in Neuroscience grants program and contributing to the Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW).

Publications

Reichard KL, Newton KA, Rivera ZMG, Sotero de Menezes P, Land BB, Chavkin C. “Regulation of kappa opioid receptor inactivation depends on sex and cellular site of action.”  Molecular Pharmacology

Heymann G, Jo YS, Reichard KL, McFarland N, Chavkin C, Palmiter RD, Soden ME, Zweifel LS. “Synergy of Distinct Dopamine Projection Populations in Behavioral Reinforcement”. Neuron 2019 Dec.

Abraham, A. D., Schattauer, S. S., Reichard, K. L., Cohen, J. H., Fontaine, H. M., Song, A. J., Johnson, S., Land, B.B., Chavkin, C. “Estrogen regulation of GRK2 inactivates kappa opioid receptor signaling mediating  analgesia, but not aversion“. Journal of Neuroscience 2018 Aug.

Schattauer SS, Land BB, Reichard KL, Abraham AD, Burgeno, LM. Kuhar JR, Phillips PEM, Ong SE, Chavkin C. “Peroxiredoxin 6 mediates Gαi protein-coupled receptor inactivation by cJun kinase“. Nature Communications 2017 Sept; 8(743).

Kar A, Sun CY, Reichard K, Gervasi NM, Pickel J, Nakazawa K, Kaplan BB. “Dysregulation of the axonal trafficking of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNA alters neuronal mitochondrial activity and mouse behavior.” Developmental Neurobiology. 2014 Mar;74(3):333-50.

Conference Presentations & Posters

Reichard KL, Sotero de Menezes P, Chavkin C. “norBNI Does Not Act as a Long-Acting Antagonist in Nucleus Accumbens Dopamine Terminals”.   Kappa Therapeutics, Seattle WA, April 2019

Reichard KL, Sotero de Menezes P, Abraham AD, Chavkin C. “Differential pre- and post-synaptic K+ channel regulation by kappa opioid receptors affect dopamine neuron physiology”. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, November 2018.

Reichard, K. Levinstein MR, Voelker L, Mesa N, Rusch C, Steger JS. “Scientist Advocates: Shifting the culture toward justice, equity, and diverse representation through community organizing, data transparency, and education.” Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, November 2018.

Reichard, K., Schauttauer, SS., Burgeno,LM., Steger, JS., Abraham, AD., Land, BB., Chavkin, C. “NorBNI inactivates Dopamine D2 receptors on VTA nerve terminals by stimulating ROS production through a JNK/PRDX6 mechanism”. Poster. Kappa Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, April 2017.

Reichard, K., Kar, A., Sun, C., Gioio, A., Gervasi, N. Kaplan, B. “Dysregulated axonal transport of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNA alters axon length and animal behavior.” NIH Post-Baccalaureate Poster Day, Bethesda MD May 2013.

Reichard, K., Lin, A., Desai, A., Schwartz, K., Heng, P., Huang, N. “RNAi Screen of Predicted E3 Ubiquitin Ligases that may Mark MEX-3 for Degradation in the C. elegans Embryo”. Poster. American Society       for Cell Biology Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, December 2011.

Reichard, K., Natera-Naranjo, O., Gioio, A.E., Kar, A., Macgibeny, M., Kaplan, B.B “Regulation of axonal ATP Synthase (C1) expression: effects on axonal growth and ROS production.”  NIH Summer Poster Day, August 2010.