Gabriel P. A. Costa, MD
Postdoctoral AssociateDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Education
MD
Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Medicine (2024)
Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Medicine (2024)
Pain and Addiction Interaction Neuroscience (PAIN) Lab
Publications Overview
- 34 Publications
- 133 Citations
- 19 Yale Co-Authors
Education
MD
Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Medicine (2024)
Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Medicine (2024)
Pain and Addiction Interaction Neuroscience (PAIN) Lab
Publications Overview
- 34 Publications
- 133 Citations
- 19 Yale Co-Authors
Education
MD
Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Medicine (2024)
Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Medicine (2024)
Pain and Addiction Interaction Neuroscience (PAIN) Lab
Publications Overview
- 34 Publications
- 133 Citations
- 19 Yale Co-Authors
About
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Titles
Postdoctoral Associate
Postdoctoral Associate, Psychiatry
Biography
Dr. Gabriel Costa is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Pain and Addiction Interactions Neuroscience (PAIN) Lab at Yale University, where his research focuses on addiction psychiatry, chronic pain medicine, and cannabinoid pharmacology. With a background in both medicine and engineering, he integrates clinical research methods with advanced data science approaches to explain clinical phenomena through mechanistic human laboratory studies.
His work aims to develop novel pharmacological interventions for individuals with co-occurring opioid use disorder and chronic pain, leveraging human experimental medicine, quantitative sensory testing, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling, and ecological momentary assessment. Through this multidisciplinary approach, Dr. Costa seeks to inform precision treatment strategies and advance the understanding of how cannabinoids and related compounds modulate pain and addiction processes.
Last Updated on September 10, 2025.
Appointments
Psychiatry
Postdoctoral AssociatePrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Pain and Addiction Interaction Neurosciences (PAIN) Lab
- Psychiatry
Education & Training
- MD
- Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, Medicine (2024)
Research
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Overview
Public Health Interests
Clinical Trials; Behavioral Health; Statistical Computing; Mental Health; Randomized Trials; Substance Use, Addiction
ORCID
0009-0007-8702-5436- View Lab Website
Pain and Addiction Interaction Neuroscience (PAIN) Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Gabriel P. A. Costa's published research.
Joao P. De Aquino, MD
Mehmet Sofuoglu, MD, PhD
Jeremy Weleff, DO
Brian Pittman
Ismene Petrakis, MD
Melissa C Funaro, MLS, MS
Publications
2026
Clinical Presentations and Treatment of Baclofen Toxicity and Withdrawal: A Systematic Review (P11-7.012)
Iqbal M, Sehgal K, Modi P, Costa G, Bhattacharya G, Nero N, Siddiqui J, Weleff J, Anand A. Clinical Presentations and Treatment of Baclofen Toxicity and Withdrawal: A Systematic Review (P11-7.012). Neurology 2026, 106 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000215960.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRecent cannabis exposure and acute nicotine effects: insights from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intravenous nicotine studies
Costa G, MacLean R, Sofuoglu M, De Aquino J. Recent cannabis exposure and acute nicotine effects: insights from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intravenous nicotine studies. The International Journal Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2026, 29: pyag030. PMID: 42189934, PMCID: PMC13322297, DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyag030.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDrug Effects QuestionnaireAcute subjective effectsCannabis exposureCessation outcomesAversive responsesNicotine self-administration behaviorExposure interactionsEffects of intravenous nicotineSelf-administration behaviorNicotine Self-AdministrationNicotine's acute effectsAcute nicotine effectsDouble-blindIV nicotineNicotine choiceCardiovascular responsesAversive effectsSelf-AdministrationNicotine doseIntravenous nicotineNicotine effectsPlacebo-controlled studyNicotine studiesBetween-group differencesCardiovascular reactivityAn opioid-withholding human laboratory paradigm during opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder and chronic pain: Phase- and dose-dependent effects of cannabidiol
P. A. Costa G, Sofuoglu M, Compton P, Ranganathan M, Pittman B, De Aquino J. An opioid-withholding human laboratory paradigm during opioid agonist treatment for opioid use disorder and chronic pain: Phase- and dose-dependent effects of cannabidiol. Neuropsychopharmacology 2026, 1-10. PMID: 42162267, PMCID: PMC13213852, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-026-02443-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsOpioid use disorderOpioid agonist treatmentChronic painPain modulationDose-dependent effectAgonist treatmentTemporal summationTemporal summation of painPlacebo-controlled crossover studyUse disorderSignificant linear dose responseHuman laboratory paradigmsNon-opioid adjunctsConditioned pain modulationEndogenous pain modulationDescending pain inhibitionHeat pain thresholdQuantitative sensory testingEffects of cannabidiolCue-induced cravingAssociated with significant reductionsCognitive performanceOral cannabidiolPain inhibitionDouble-blindBrief Report: Is once daily enough? Assessing the impact of timing of methadone dose on pain sensitivity via quantitative sensory testing in persons with opioid use disorder
Costa G, Riggione C, Meyerovich J, Barry D, De Aquino J. Brief Report: Is once daily enough? Assessing the impact of timing of methadone dose on pain sensitivity via quantitative sensory testing in persons with opioid use disorder. American Journal On Addictions 2026 PMID: 42046174, PMCID: PMC13132031, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.70162.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsOpioid use disorderQuantitative sensory testingPain sensitivityPre-doseMethadone doseThermal quantitative sensory testingUse disorderConditioned pain modulationHeat pain thresholdExperimental pain sensitivityInter-dose intervalSensory testingPain modulationInadequate analgesiaPost-dosePain thresholdTemporal summationOpioidPainDoseMethadoneDisordersHyperalgesiaAnalgesiaSensitivityModulating the endocannabinoid system in alcohol use disorder: A translational systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical and human studies
Costa G, Cerezo-Matias M, Funaro M, Bagdas D, Kaye A, Krystal J, Petrakis I, De Aquino J. Modulating the endocannabinoid system in alcohol use disorder: A translational systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical and human studies. Molecular Psychiatry 2026, 31: 3849-3871. PMID: 41760917, PMCID: PMC13269127, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-026-03523-5.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsThis study investigates targeting the endocannabinoid system for alcohol use disorder, finding promising preclinical results for cannabidiol and CB1 receptor modulators, but inconsistent human trial outcomes highlight the need for better-designed clinical studies.Characteristics of United States Food and Drug Administration Drug Recalls Involving Opioid Medications, 2002–2025
Nunes J, Costa G, De Aquino J. Characteristics of United States Food and Drug Administration Drug Recalls Involving Opioid Medications, 2002–2025. Pharmacoepidemiology And Drug Safety 2026, 35: e70341. PMID: 41725568, DOI: 10.1002/pds.70341.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsFood and Drug AdministrationUnited States Food and Drug AdministrationStates Food and Drug AdministrationChi-square testOpioid medicationsClass I-IIIInter-rater agreementDrug AdministrationClass IOpioidCohen's kIndependent reviewersMorphineMedication recallInter-RaterI-IIIHydromorphoneRecall reasonFentanylDelivery systemSeverityDescriptive analysisOxycodoneDrug recallHydrocodoneClinical Presentations and Treatment of Baclofen Toxicity and Withdrawal: A Systematic Review
Iqbal M, Modi P, Sehgal K, Costa G, Bhattacharya G, Nero N, Siddiqui J, Weleff J, Anand A. Clinical Presentations and Treatment of Baclofen Toxicity and Withdrawal: A Systematic Review. CNS Drugs 2026, 40: 419-449. PMID: 41555041, DOI: 10.1007/s40263-025-01254-9.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsClinical presentationCase reportBaclofen toxicityCase seriesMechanical ventilationJoanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal ChecklistObservational studySystematic reviewB receptor agonistOff-label dosesCritical Appraisal ChecklistCentral nervous system depressionLength of hospitalizationAlcohol use disorderRisk of biasNervous system depressionStandard clinical guidelinesIntrathecal baclofenAutonomic instabilityWithdrawal syndromePatient safetyPreclinical dataAppraisal ChecklistPrompt recognitionRetrospective study
2025
Exploring the effects of cannabidiol on pain sensitivity using quantitative sensory testing among individuals receiving methadone or buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: an open-label, proof-of-concept study
Costa G, Suh R, Sofuoglu M, De Aquino J. Exploring the effects of cannabidiol on pain sensitivity using quantitative sensory testing among individuals receiving methadone or buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: an open-label, proof-of-concept study. Addictive Behaviors Reports 2025, 23: 100654. PMID: 41496743, PMCID: PMC12767834, DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2025.100654.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsQuantitative sensory testingOpioid use disorderPain sensitivityUse disorderProof-of-concept studyCannabidiol's impactCBD doseOpen-labelChronic painPain managementQuantitative sensory testing measuresPlacebo-controlled randomized trialPain response patternsTolerability of cannabidiolHeat pain thresholdEffects of cannabidiolAdverse cognitive effectsOpioid use disorder treatmentSensory testingPain thresholdVerbal memorySubjective effectsCannabidiol doseAdverse eventsBuprenorphine groupDifferences in diagnosis and treatment across racial–ethnic groups with co-occurring chronic pain and opioid use disorder: a scoping review
Nunes J, Costa G, Cerezo-Matias M, Funaro M, Campbell C, De Aquino J. Differences in diagnosis and treatment across racial–ethnic groups with co-occurring chronic pain and opioid use disorder: a scoping review. Pain Medicine 2025, 27: 613-626. PMID: 41358971, DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaf173.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsChronic non-cancer painOpioid use disorderScoping ReviewMixed Methods Appraisal ToolNon-pharmacological pain treatmentsMethods Appraisal ToolNon-whitePatient-reported experiencesRisk of opioid misusePain-related distressOpioid use disorder diagnosisProvider decision-makingPRISMA-ScR guidelinesOpioid use disorder careOpioid prescribing ratesNon-cancer painRacial-ethnic differencesAccess-related factorsHigh riskUse disorderManagement of individualsRacial-ethnic groupsTreatment access barriersIntegrated careNon-white individualsExpanding Access to Buprenorphine and Methadone: Global Perspectives and Policy Recommendations
Nunes J, Costa G, De Aquino J, Adinoff B. Expanding Access to Buprenorphine and Methadone: Global Perspectives and Policy Recommendations. Substance Use & Addiction Journal 2025, 47: 595-610. PMID: 41317155, DOI: 10.1177/29767342251392342.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricConceptsNarrative review of peer-reviewedPolicy literaturePolicy recommendationsOverdose deathsUniversal coverageMOUD accessPolicyRegulatory reformPublic health systemNational scale-upEconomic gainsReview of peer-reviewedOpioid use disorderNarrative reviewGlobal burdenInternational evidenceU.S. coverageNational prevalence dataOpioid-related deathsCenters for Disease ControlHealth systemMortality dataRegulatory bottlenecksGlobal Burden of Disease StudyMainstream healthcare
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Honors
honor Early Career Investigator
04/07/2025National AwardCollege on Problems of Drug Dependencehonor John Renner Travel Award
01/07/2024National AwardAmerican Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
News & Links
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News
- May 21, 2026Source: Neuropsychopharmacology
An Opioid-Withholding Human Laboratory Paradigm During Opioid Agonist Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder and Chronic Pain: Phase- and Dose-Dependent Effects of Cannabidiol
- February 27, 2026Source: Molecular Psychiatry
Modulating the Endocannabinoid System in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Translational Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical and Human Studies
- February 23, 2026
Yale Study Examines FDA Drug Recall Data Involving Opioid Medications
- January 12, 2026Source: Pain Medicine
Review: Differences in Diagnosis and Treatment Across Racial–Ethnic Groups with Co-Occurring Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder
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