Erica S Levitt
Pfizer Upjohn Research Professor of Translational Pharmacology
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Medical School
[email protected]

Available to mentor
Erica S Levitt
Associate Professor
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  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
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    About

    Brainstem circuit mechanisms underlying opioid-induced respiratory depression.

    Neurotransmission deficits and breathing abnormalities in Rett Syndrome.

    Links
    • Levitt lab website
    Qualifications
    • Postdoctoral Fellow
      Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Vollum Institute
    • PhD
      University of Michigan Medical School, 2010
    • PharmD
      Ohio Northern University, 2004
    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      MExperts-Opioid Research Institute
    Research Overview

    The Levitt lab is interested in understanding how opioids and disease affect the brainstem circuitry that controls breathing using a variety of cellular and systems level approaches, including brain slice electrophysiology, circuit tracing, optogenetics, single unit and whole nerve recordings from a unique preparation with an intact respiratory network and in vivo-like respiratory cycle, and breathing measurements in awake animals.

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Endogenous opioids and the development of the mammalian respiratory control network.
      Whitaker-Fornek JR, Levitt ES. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 2025 Jun 1; 328 (6): L901 - L918. DOI:10.1152/ajplung.00316.2024
      PMID: 40240763
    • Journal Article
      Xylazine Exacerbates Fentanyl-Induced Respiratory Depression and Bradycardia
      Demery C, Moore SC, Levitt ES, Anand J, Traynor JR. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2025 May 29; 103616 DOI:10.1016/j.jpet.2025.103616
    • Journal Article
      Opposing control of the respiratory brainstem on multiple timescales achieved by transmitter co-release from the locus coeruleus.
      Varga AG, Reid BT, Maletz SN, Dossat AM, Levitt ES. bioRxiv, 2025 Feb 22; DOI:10.1101/2025.02.21.639476
      PMID: PMC11870594
    • Journal Article
      Exploring Endogenous Opioid Influence on Respiratory Development
      Whitaker-Fornek J, Levitt E. Physiology, 2025 May 14; 40 (S1): 0546 DOI:10.1152/physiol.2025.40.s1.0546
    • Presentation
      Novel Insights on the Mechanisms Underlying Opioid-induced Overdoses
      Levitt E. 2025 Jun 24;
    • Presentation
      Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression
      Levitt E. 2025 Jun 24;
    • Journal Article
      Opioid Suppression of Serotonin Signaling in Ponto-medullary Breathing Circuitry
      Pauly R, Whitaker-Fornek J, Arakawa K, Levitt E. Physiology, 2025 May 14; 40 (S1): 1043 DOI:10.1152/physiol.2025.40.s1.1043
    • Journal Article
      Effect of positive allosteric modulation and orthosteric agonism of dopamine D2-like receptors on respiration in mouse models of Rett syndrome.
      Maletz SN, Reid BT, Baekey DM, Whitaker-Fornek JR, Bateman JT, Arakawa K, Bissonnette JM, Levitt ES. Respir Physiol Neurobiol, 2024 Oct; 328: 104314 DOI:10.1016/j.resp.2024.104314
      PMID: 39117159