Brian Fuehrlein, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Pharmacogenomic-Based GWAS Meta-Analyses Coupled with Genetic and Epigenetic Liability Testing Connects Facial and Emotional Recognition Systems to Spectrum Disorders, Schizophrenia, Depression, and Anxiety.
Blum K, Lewandrowski A, Sharafshah A, Pinhasov A, Mohankumar K, Gold M, Fuehrlein B, Elman I, Dennen C, Thanos P, Bowirrat A, Baron D, Modestino E, Jafari N, Zeine F, Sunder K, Makale M, Lorio M, Khalsa J, Schmidt S, Fiorelli R, Weinstein A, Lindenau M, Lewandrowski K, Alves Ó, Mahajan S, Mahajan Y, Badgaiyan R. Pharmacogenomic-Based GWAS Meta-Analyses Coupled with Genetic and Epigenetic Liability Testing Connects Facial and Emotional Recognition Systems to Spectrum Disorders, Schizophrenia, Depression, and Anxiety. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2026, 27 PMID: 41830575, DOI: 10.2174/0113892010431102260107110422.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGenome-wide association studiesProtein-protein interactionsGenome-wide association study datasetsAnalysis of protein-protein interactionsGWAS meta-analysesAssociation studiesGene listsConnected genesProtein-proteinPhenotypic roleSilico analysisLinked genesTherapeutic target potentialGenesGARS geneAnnotationPGxPharmacogenesExpressionPharmacogenomicsFGLMeta-meta-analysisTraitsTargeting potentialMeta-analysesEstablishing criteria for emergency department-based episode of care definitions: a modified Delphi study
Kocher K, Myers A, Urech T, Asch S, Admon A, Fuehrlein B, Gettel C, Patel N, Pines J, Potochny N, Sabbatini A, Vanneman M, Ward M, Vashi A. Establishing criteria for emergency department-based episode of care definitions: a modified Delphi study. BMJ Open 2026, 16: e111727. PMID: 41781042, PMCID: PMC12970077, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-111727.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseEmergency departmentED care deliveryModified Delphi StudyDownstream costsDelphi panel studyCare deliveryHigh-cost conditionsEmergency medicineObstructive pulmonary diseaseChest painEvidence synthesisHealthcare administratorsOnline survey platformThematic analysisClinical specialtiesMultidisciplinary panelCongestive heart failureDelphi studyRisk adjustmentAnonymous feedbackExclusive categoriesSurvey platformExclusion criteriaPulmonary diseaseBeyond Stigma–Integrating Neurobiology, Genetics, and Awareness Integration Theory in Addiction Recovery
Blum K, Gold M, Jafari N, Lewandrowski K, Sharafshah A, Mohankumar K, Lorio M, Bowirrat A, Pinhasov A, Thanos K, Elman I, Baron D, Dennen C, Fuehrlein B, Lewandrowski A, Modestino E, Thanos P, Zeine F. Beyond Stigma–Integrating Neurobiology, Genetics, and Awareness Integration Theory in Addiction Recovery. Psychology Research And Behavior Management 2026, 19: 561157. PMID: 41710726, PMCID: PMC12911994, DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s561157.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAddiction recoveryTrauma-informed careShame-prone individualsReward Deficiency SyndromeGuilt-prone individualsAt-risk individualsSelf-AwarenessImpact of shameStigma reductionSocial supportIntegration theoryCognitive restructuringEmotion regulationNeuroimaging studiesSelf-forgivenessDopamine homeostasisBrain-basedIntegrative therapiesNeurobiological disorderCompassionate approachNeurobiological insightsBiological predispositionSelf-acceptanceSubstance useAddiction
2025
Pharmacoepigenomics in Personalized Medicine: A Hypothesis-Generating Approach to Introduce CpG-PGx SNPs as New Candidates for a Systematic Insight into Genomic-Epigenomic-Phenomic-Pharmacogenomics (G-E-Ph-PGx) Axis
Sharafshah A, Blum K, Lewandrowski K, Elman I, Fuehrlein B, Baron D, Pinhasov A, Thanos P, Fiorelli R, Schmidt S, Gardner E, Lorio M, Lewandrowski A, Gold M. Pharmacoepigenomics in Personalized Medicine: A Hypothesis-Generating Approach to Introduce CpG-PGx SNPs as New Candidates for a Systematic Insight into Genomic-Epigenomic-Phenomic-Pharmacogenomics (G-E-Ph-PGx) Axis. Journal Of Personalized Medicine 2025, 15: 579. PMID: 41440942, PMCID: PMC12734362, DOI: 10.3390/jpm15120579.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCpG-SNPsTop genesImpact of SNPsPGx associationsSynonymous variantsRegulatory regionsCandidate genesEpigenetic interactionsSNPsEpigenetic processesPharmacoepigenomicsGenesCpGHypothesis-generating approachPGxGWASPersonalized medicineTherapeutic opportunitiesVariantsSystematic insightPharmGKBEpigeneticsGeneCardsPhenotypeAccess regionCorrection: Targeting pro-dopaminergic agonism to attenuate depression in patients displaying genetic/epigenetic predisposition to hypodopaminergia
Lewandrowski K, Blum K, Lewandrowski A, Thanos P, Pinhasov A, Sharafshah A, Baron D, Gold M, Dennen C, Elman I, Bowirrat A, Modestino E, Zeine F, Jafari N, Sunder K, Makale M, Giordano J, Gondre-Lewis M, Lindenau M, Fuehrlein B, Badgaiyan R, Levin C, Schmidt S, Fiorelli R. Correction: Targeting pro-dopaminergic agonism to attenuate depression in patients displaying genetic/epigenetic predisposition to hypodopaminergia. Frontiers In Public Health 2025, 13: 1737084. PMID: 41334398, PMCID: PMC12667608, DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1737084.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTargeting pro-dopaminergic agonism to attenuate depression in patients displaying genetic/epigenetic predisposition to hypodopaminergia
Lewandrowski K, Blum K, Lewandrowski A, Thanos P, Pinhasov A, Sharafshah A, Baron D, Gold M, Dennen C, Elman I, Bowirrat A, Modestino E, Zeine F, Jafari N, Sunder K, Makale M, Giordano J, Gondre-Lewis M, Lindenau M, Fuehrlein B, Badgaiyan R, Levin C, Schmidt S, Fiorelli R. Targeting pro-dopaminergic agonism to attenuate depression in patients displaying genetic/epigenetic predisposition to hypodopaminergia. Frontiers In Public Health 2025, 13: 1594872. PMID: 41080838, PMCID: PMC12512667, DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1594872.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPGx-Based in silico Analyses Identifies the Interactive Role of Genes, Glucose Metabolism and Dopaminergic Dysfunctional Pathways with Chronic Cocaine use and Misuse.
Sharafshah A, Thanos P, Pinhasov A, Bowirrat A, Hanna C, Lewandrowski K, Rowan C, Elman I, Gold M, Dennen C, Modestino E, Badgaiyan R, Baron D, Fuehrlein B, Gupta A, Cadet J, Pollack A, Khalsa J, Makale M, Lewandrowski A, Blum K. PGx-Based in silico Analyses Identifies the Interactive Role of Genes, Glucose Metabolism and Dopaminergic Dysfunctional Pathways with Chronic Cocaine use and Misuse. Current Neuropharmacology 2025, 23 PMID: 40993956, DOI: 10.2174/011570159x390146250831143523.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProtein-protein interactionsGene-miRNA interactionsProtein-coding genesBrain-expressed genesIn silico analysisPGx analysisSubstance use disordersConnected genesPGxSilico analysisGene-miRNAChronic cocaine useGlucose metabolismDysfunction pathwayEnrichment analysisGenesComputational predictionsCocaine useDopamine functionDopaminergic pathwaysHsa-miR-16Hsa-miR-16-5pCocaineCOMT geneUse disorderGWAS meta-meta-analysis and related analyses revealed a shared genetic background between ADHD and narcolepsy
Modestino E, Sharafshah A, Lewandrowski K, Carey E, Mohankumar K, Thanos P, Pinhasov A, Bowirrat A, Baron D, Gold M, Elman I, Gardner E, Fuehrlein B, Zeine F, Jafari N, Dennen C, Lewandrowski A, Badgaiyan R, Blum K. GWAS meta-meta-analysis and related analyses revealed a shared genetic background between ADHD and narcolepsy. Academia Molecular Biology And Genomics 2025, 2 DOI: 10.20935/acadmolbiogen7751.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchProtein-protein interactionsGene listsAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorderReward Deficiency SyndromeGWAS meta-analysesGWAS Catalog databasePGx analysisPGx dataFamily genesSystems biologyGenetic basisGWASShared genesSusceptibility to narcolepsyGenesGenetic backgroundRBFOX1PGxMeta-meta-analysisComprehensive data miningDopaminergic reward systemTherapeutic targetFOXP2Potential endophenotypesAddictive behaviorsPre-addiction phenotype is associated with dopaminergic dysfunction: Evidence from 88.8 million genome-wide association study-based samples
Blum K, Sharafshah A, Lewandrowski K, Schmidt S, Alvim Fiorelli R, Pinhasov A, Bowirrat A, Gold M, Gardner E, Thanos P, Fuehrlein B, Baron D, Elman I, Dennen C, Jafari N, Zeine F, Lewandrowski A, Makale M, Modestino E, Sunder K, Murphy K, Fliegelman C, Mahajan S, Mahajan Y, Badgaiyan R. Pre-addiction phenotype is associated with dopaminergic dysfunction: Evidence from 88.8 million genome-wide association study-based samples. Gene & Protein In Disease 2025, 4: 8090. DOI: 10.36922/gpd.8090.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGenetic Addiction Risk SeverityReward Deficiency SyndromeDopaminergic dysfunctionEarly genetic testingAssociated with dopaminergic dysfunctionStandardized treatment algorithmSubstance use disordersHypodopaminergic stateOpioid dependenceOpioid prescribingAddiction biologyTreatment algorithmDeficiency syndromeDopaminergic pathwaysGenetic testingNeurobiological vulnerabilityRelapse preventionAddiction medicineAddictive behaviorsComorbid behaviorsFunctional neuroimagingUse disorderDepressive symptomsPainBehavioral expressionA Review of the Evidence Surrounding Popular Cognitive Enhancers
Draghmeh K, Elmarasi M, Fuehrlein B. A Review of the Evidence Surrounding Popular Cognitive Enhancers. Current Psychopharmacologye 2025, 13 DOI: 10.2174/0122115560363501250609121229.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- November 24, 2025
Fuehrlein to Receive 2025 Pillar of Excellence Award
- December 12, 2024
Fuehrlein, Pérez Palmer, Wilkins Promoted at VA
- August 27, 2024Source: Psychology Today
Smoking Hard Drugs Is Now Killing Many Users
- April 02, 2024
Fuehrlein Appointed Chief Mental Health Consultant at VA Central Office
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Contacts
Mailing Address
Psychiatry
VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Ave
West Haven, CT 06516
United States