Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsRuth Asch
Assistant Professor Adjunct in PsychiatryAbout
Research
Publications
2025
In vivo evidence for metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 dysregulation in chronic pain
Davis M, Weiss E, DellaGioia N, Boster S, Asch R, Moisieienko K, Esterlis I. In vivo evidence for metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 dysregulation in chronic pain. Neuropsychopharmacology 2025, 1-8. PMID: 41413678, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-025-02296-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTransdiagnostic samplePositron emission tomographyMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Sleep disturbanceChronic painGlutamate receptor 5Associated with depressionSample of individualsSources of personalityPsychiatric groupsExecutive dysfunctionAcute painPsychiatric diagnosisBrain regionsCognitive functionMGlu5Severe depressionNeurophysiology of painEffective treatment optionTreatment targetExploratory analysisAnxietyDepressionEmission tomographyIn vivo evidenceNeural Signatures of Bipolar Disorder and Psychotropic Medication Effects: A Multimodal PET–MRI Study
Asch R, Fan S, Cool R, Boster S, DellaGioia N, Naganawa M, Nabulsi N, Lacadie C, Pietrzak R, Esterlis I. Neural Signatures of Bipolar Disorder and Psychotropic Medication Effects: A Multimodal PET–MRI Study. Biological Psychiatry 2025 PMID: 41325959, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.11.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGray matter volumeBipolar disorderMedication effectsNeural signaturesPsychotropic medicationsFronto-limbic brain regionsAssociated with greater impulsivityPositron emission tomographyC]UCB-J positron emission tomographyNeurobiology of bipolar disorderSynaptic densitySynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AIllness-related changesMatter volumeSV2A densityBD individualsBrain regionsFunctional MRIBrain structuresGroup differencesSynaptic deficitsNeuroimaging findingsPET-MRI studiesMedical statusIn vivo evidenceIn Vivo PET Imaging of Preynaptic Density Reveals Stress-Associated Synaptic Deficits Related to Behavioral and Molecular Alterations in Rats
Asch R, Martin N, Garcia-Milian R, Fowles K, DiLeone R, Cai Z, Liston C, Esterlis I. In Vivo PET Imaging of Preynaptic Density Reveals Stress-Associated Synaptic Deficits Related to Behavioral and Molecular Alterations in Rats. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience And Neuroimaging 2025 PMID: 41038318, PMCID: PMC12614775, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2025.09.021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNovel object recognitionPrefrontal cortexPositron emission tomographySucrose preferenceSynaptic densityChronic stressExposed to chronic unpredictable stressIn vivo PET imagingRodent models of chronic stressModel of chronic stressFemale Long-Evans ratsChronic unpredictable stressIn vivo positron emission tomographyStress-related pathologiesLong-Evans ratsRodent modelsRats relative to controlsIn vivo quantificationRelative to controlsUnpredictable stressBehavioral phenotypesSynaptic deficitsHippocampal proteinsSynaptic density changesSynaptic vesicle protein 2AExploring the influence of synaptic density and anxiety on pain perception: evidence from a [11C]UCB-J positron emission tomography imaging study
Moisieienko K, Asch R, Davis M, Pietrzak R, Esterlis I. Exploring the influence of synaptic density and anxiety on pain perception: evidence from a [11C]UCB-J positron emission tomography imaging study. The International Journal Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2025, 28: pyaf040. PMID: 40511849, PMCID: PMC12289550, DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaf040.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAnterior cingulate cortexDorsolateral prefrontal cortexFusiform gyrusAnxiety symptomsSV2A densitySynaptic densityState anxietyMediation analysisPain sensitivityAssociated with greater pain sensitivityAssociated with painState anxiety symptomsFunctional brain alterationsMedically healthy subjectsIndirect effectsPrefrontal cortexCingulate cortexPlasma input functionBrain alterationsOne-tissue compartment modelPET imaging studiesGyrusAnxietyRegional volumesHigher pain sensitivityEvaluation of radio-thin-layer chromatography as an alternative to radio-HPLC for [18F]SynVesT-1 metabolism analysis in rats
Balayeva T, Asch R, Tan P, Mennie W, Tong J, Chen B, Zhuang Z, Zheng C, Zheng M, Toyonaga T, Cai Z. Evaluation of radio-thin-layer chromatography as an alternative to radio-HPLC for [18F]SynVesT-1 metabolism analysis in rats. Nuclear Medicine And Biology 2025, 146: 109029. PMID: 40383020, PMCID: PMC12228526, DOI: 10.1016/j.nucmedbio.2025.109029.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPositron emission tomographyParent fractionSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ANeuropsychiatric disordersBrain regionsRadiometabolite analysisPET imaging dataLongitudinal studyRadiometabolitesRadio-HPLCArterial blood samplesEmission tomographyBrainMetabolic correctionIntravenous infusionPlasma concentrationsPET quantificationSV2AKinetic modelBlood samplesRadio-high-performance liquid chromatographyPost-injectionRatsRadio-HPLC methodRadio thin layer chromatography270. Sex-Differences in Molecular and Synaptic Mechanisms Contributing to Stress-Related pathology: Insight from a Synaptic Density Pet and Proteomic Study in Rats
Asch R, Garcia-Milian R, Hernandez-Martin N, Cai Z, Esterlis I. 270. Sex-Differences in Molecular and Synaptic Mechanisms Contributing to Stress-Related pathology: Insight from a Synaptic Density Pet and Proteomic Study in Rats. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s207. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.508.Peer-Reviewed Original Research52. The Role of Synaptic Density and Anxiety Symptoms in Modulating Pain Perception: Evidence From a [11C]UCB-J PET Imaging Study
Moisieienko K, Asch R, Davis M, Pietrzak R, Esterlis I. 52. The Role of Synaptic Density and Anxiety Symptoms in Modulating Pain Perception: Evidence From a [11C]UCB-J PET Imaging Study. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 97: s116. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.02.289.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchVenous blood sampling for less invasive in vivo quantification of synaptic density with constant infusion of [18F]SynVesT-1 and PET
Asch R, Naganawa M, Moisieienko K, Weed M, Kapinos M, Zheng M, Hillmer A, Carson R, Pietrzak R, Esterlis I. Venous blood sampling for less invasive in vivo quantification of synaptic density with constant infusion of [18F]SynVesT-1 and PET. EJNMMI Research 2025, 15: 8. PMID: 39900828, PMCID: PMC11790547, DOI: 10.1186/s13550-025-01200-2.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
An In Vivo Examination of the Relationship Between Metabotropic Glutamate 5 Receptor and Suicide Attempts in People With Borderline Personality Disorder
Davis M, Asch R, Weiss E, Wagner A, Fineberg S, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Carson R, Esterlis I. An In Vivo Examination of the Relationship Between Metabotropic Glutamate 5 Receptor and Suicide Attempts in People With Borderline Personality Disorder. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience And Neuroimaging 2024, 10: 324-332. PMID: 39613160, PMCID: PMC12009513, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.11.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBorderline personality disorderPathophysiology of borderline personality disorderSuicide attemptsPersonality disorderPositron emission tomographyAssociated with history of suicide attemptBorderline personality disorder symptomsBPD pathophysiologyPositron emission tomography outcomes measurementsHistory of suicide attemptsMetabotropic glutamate receptor type 5Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5Glutamate receptor 5Comprehensive clinical assessmentFrontolimbic circuitsMDD groupDepressive disorderEmotion regulationPsychiatric conditionsCognitive functionMGlu5Comparison controlsMDDSuicideAssociated with historyMetabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 as a Potential Biomarker of the Intersection of Trauma and Cannabis Use
Weiss E, Davis M, Asch R, D'Souza D, Cool R, Esterlis I. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 as a Potential Biomarker of the Intersection of Trauma and Cannabis Use. The International Journal Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2024, 27: pyae044. PMID: 39320043, PMCID: PMC11969217, DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyae044.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTrauma-related psychopathologyCannabis useDepressive symptomsPositron emission tomographyCross-diagnostic sampleMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Treatment development effortsAssociated with depressive symptomsGlutamate receptor 5Cu groupSample of individualsAvailability in vivoFrontolimbic regionsGlutamatergic systemGlutamatergic neurotransmissionMGlu5PsychopathologyReceptor 5Intersection of traumaExploratory analysisCannabisEmission tomographySymptomsParticipantsVmPFC
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- December 16, 2025Source: Biological Psychiatry
Neural Signatures of Bipolar Disorder and Psychotropic Medication Effects: A Multimodal PET-MRI Study
- November 25, 2024
Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids Announces Inaugural Pilot Award Winners
- February 07, 2024
Asch Selected to Receive SOBP Travel Fellowship Award
- September 07, 2023
Asch Chosen to Receive YCCI Scholar Award
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