People

Dr. De Aquino is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine and Assistant Chief of Inpatient Psychiatry at the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit. In addition to treating persons with substance use disorders and co-occurring medical and psychiatric disorders, he combines behavioral pharmacology, computerized psychophysical techniques, and clinical trial methods to develop novel therapeutics for pain and addiction.

Julia Meyerovich is the laboratory manager for the PAIN Lab at the Yale University Department of Psychiatry. She oversees all research studies and manages the laboratory staff within the PAIN Lab. Julia is actively involved in the development, training, and implementation of research protocols, as well as data management. She works closely with the PAIN Lab team to ensure that all research projects adhere to protocol, schedule, budget, and clinical standards. Julia has a particular interest in the role of psychedelics in the context of pain and addiction.

Dr. Nunes is a research track Psychiatry Resident at Yale University. He completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Stanford University Center for Clinical Research, where he focused on shared decision-making and healthcare disparities. As a member of the PAIN Lab, Dr. Nunes studies pharmacological treatments for patients with chronic pain and substance use disorders, with a particular interest in how healthcare disparities impact pain management for individuals with addiction disorders. He is also dedicated to medical education and mentoring, recognized for his commitment to teaching.

Simon Asnes is a Postgraduate Research Associate in the PAIN Lab. He is interested in the clinical neuroscience of pain and addiction, with a particular focus on integrating clinical care and research as a future physician. Simon graduated from Colby College in Maine with a degree in Psychology, concentrating on neuroscience. His passion for combining clinical practice and research drives his commitment to advancing our understanding of pain and addiction and improving patient care.

Dr. Costa is a Postdoctoral Associate in the PAIN lab, with research interests in addiction psychiatry and pain medicine. With a unique background in both medicine and engineering, he combines clinical research methods with data science approaches to investigate substance use disorders and chronic pain conditions. His research focuses on developing novel pharmacological interventions for these concurrent disorders, through the integration of clinical insights and data-driven methods

Dr. Matthews is an internist with dual board certifications in infectious diseases and addiction medicine. He is actively involved in drug development and pharmacokinetic studies, with a particular interest in developing psychedelic therapeutics for treating chronic pain across the lifespan. Additionally, Dr. Matthews focuses on improving methodologies to effectively blind sensory experiences associated with these drugs.

Rebecca Suh is currently a Postgraduate Research Associate in the PAIN Lab. She is interested in bridging experimental human research and policy, aiming to translate scientific findings into effective healthcare solutions. Rebecca graduated from Yale University with a B.S. in Neuroscience. Before joining the PAIN Lab, she had a successful career in a healthcare startup, where she gained valuable experience in the practical applications of healthcare innovations. Rebecca's unique background fuels her commitment to integrating research and policy to improve patient outcomes.