Erica S Levitt

 headshot of Erica Levitt
Dr Emily Jutkiewicz Memorial Pfizer Upjohn Research Professor in Translational Pharmacology
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
Medical School
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Erica S Levitt
headshot of Erica Levitt
Associate Professor
  • About
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  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
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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, Portland, United States
      Postdoctoral Fellowship
    • PhD
      University of Michigan Medical School, Pharmacology, Ann Arbor, United States
      2004 - 2010
    • PharmD
      Ohio Northern University, Pharmacy, Ada, Ohio, United States
      1998 - 2004

    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      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
      Examining Presynaptic Mechanisms of Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression (Abstract ID: 235831)
      Kereakos-Fairbanks K, Levitt E, Whitaker-Fornek J, Arakawa K. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2026 May 13; 393 (5): 104065 DOI:10.1016/j.jpet.2026.104065
    • Journal Article
      Investigating inhibitory synaptic transmission in developing Kölliker-Fuse neurons from mu opioid receptor knock-out mice
      Whitaker-Fornek J, Levitt E. Physiology, 2026 May 13; 41 (S1): 2299941 DOI:10.1152/physiol.2026.41.s1.2299941
    • Journal Article
      Medullary Raphe Serotonin Neurons Are Influenced by Opioids and Improve Breathing (Abstract ID: 227705)
      Pauly R, Levitt E, Arakawa K, Whitaker-Fornek J. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2026 May 13; 393 (5): 104020 DOI:10.1016/j.jpet.2026.104020
    • Journal Article
      Opioid sensitivity of Kölliker-Fuse synapses onto inhibitory medullary neurons
      Martinetti LE, Levitt ES. Physiology, 2026 May 13; 41 (S1): 2297849 DOI:10.1152/physiol.2026.41.s1.2297849
    • Journal Article
      The Role of Gαo and Gαz in Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression (Abstract ID: 233287)
      Demery C, Mueller M, Anand J, Levitt E, Traynor J. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2026 May 13; 393 (5): 104030 DOI:10.1016/j.jpet.2026.104030
    • Journal Article
      A Mu-Opioid Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulator Provides Opioid-Sparing Antinociception Without Enhancing Opioid Side-Effects
      Kochan KE, Clements BM, Prince TD, Demery C, White AD, Levitt ES, Traynor JR. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2026 Feb 20; 104304 DOI:10.1016/j.jpet.2026.104304
    • Preprint
      Fentanyl decreases blood oxygen more than furanylfentanyl despite similar effects on breathing.
      Demery C, Moore SC, Kochan KE, Li M, Prince TD, Clements BM, Chen Z, Whitaker-Fornek JR, Levitt ES, Anand JP, Traynor JR. 2026 Jan 12; DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8398857/v1
      PMID: 41646375
    • Journal Article
      Delta opioid receptors on parvalbumin cells are necessary for the convulsant and anxiolytic effects of the delta agonist SNC80
      Walicki MC, Mueller MR, Raigosa Garza N, Levitt ES, Traynor JR, Jutkiewicz EM, Birdsong WT. Behavioural Pharmacology, 2026 Jan 1; DOI:10.1097/FBP.0000000000000882
      PMID: 42213967