Dr. Compton will provide an overview of the changing face of the opioid crisis, as the primary players have shifted from oxycontin to heroin to fentanyl to mixtures of opioids and methamphetamine. In addition to setting the stage for the talks to follow, Dr. Compton will also discuss NIDA's efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by highlight some of exciting research efforts by those not involved in this symposium.

Dr. Pravetoni will discuss recent advances in the development and translation of vaccines and antibodies for the treatment and prevention of opioid use disorders and overdose. The talk will focus on both pre-clinical and early clinical studies conducted by Dr. Pravetoni and collaborators.

Dr. France will describe recent and ongoing studies in rodents and non-human primates to develop methocinamox (MCAM), a novel, pseudo-irreversible u-opioid receptor antagonist for the treatment of opioid use disorder and overdose. Dr. France will focus on interactions between MCAM and opioid self-administration, opioid dependence and withdrawal, opioid-induced respiratory depression, as well as the analgesic effects of opioids.

Dr. Salvemini will discuss ongoing research efforts to understand how neuro-inflammatory processes are engaged in the periphery and CNS during the development of chronic neuropathic pain. Dr. Salvemini will focus on recent efforts to develop therapeutics targeting sphingolipid signaling as effective non-opioid analgesics for treating pain.