Richard O'Connor

Dr. Richard O'Connor is an Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, affiliated with the Department of Neuroscience and the Friedman Brain Institute at Mount Sinai. His research bridges neuropharmacology and psychiatric disorders, focusing on mechanisms underlying addiction, obesity, and mood disorders.

• Institution: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Department: Department of Neuroscience
• Email: richard.oconnor@mssm.edu

Research Interests

Dr. O'Connor's work explores:

• Neuroepigenetic mechanisms (e.g., histone dopaminylation)
• MicroRNA dynamics in psychiatric pathophysiology
• Dopamine signaling in compulsive behaviors
• Overlap between substance use disorders and eating behaviors
• Translational approaches to addiction and obesity
• Mental health biomarker discovery

Scientific Trends

Analysis of his 2016-2022 publications reveals consistent focus on:

• Neurobiological intersections between addiction and obesity
• Epigenetic modifications in reward circuits
• miRNA-based diagnostic approaches
• Translational models of compulsive behaviors
• Neuropharmacological targets for intervention
• Behavioral neuroscience methodologies

Media Engagement

He has been featured in press coverage discussing:

• Opioid addiction neurobiology (2024)
• Neuroepigenetic mechanisms in addiction (2024)
• Exercise and multiple sclerosis management (2023)