Chris Evans

Chris Evans is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), affiliated with the David Geffen School of Medicine. As director of the NIH-funded Center for Opioid Receptors and Drugs of Abuse (CSORDA), his work focuses on opioid drug mechanisms at molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels.

Dr. Evans’ research explores the modulation of striatal function post-opioid self-administration, particularly examining transcriptome changes in D1/D2 medium spiny neurons and microglia activation’s role in dysregulating reward circuitry during chronic pain or morphine withdrawal. He also investigates the evolutionary origins of opioid systems in primitive chordates like Pacific Hagfish.

• Opioid receptor interactions
• Chronic pain and addiction links
• Neuroimmune modulation of GABAergic neurons
• Evolutionary analysis of opioid systems

His teaching emphasizes addiction studies and community outreach programs to local high schools, integrating didactic instruction with public engagement. The 15 most recent publications highlight his work on opioid receptor dynamics, inflammation’s role in substance abuse, and evolutionary neuroscience, spanning pharmacology, neuroimmunology, and behavioral studies.