Ari Klausner, a DVM student from Las Vegas, NV, is utilizing his summer research fellowship to investigate a new approach to treating opioid use disorder (OUD), which poses significant challenges for both human and animal health. Klausner, part of the Class of 2028, has a background in chemistry from the University of Redlands and a keen interest in small animal general practice and integrative medicine.
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Under the guidance of Dr. Travis Brown and Dr. Giuseppe Giannotti, Klausner's project focuses on the potential benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in minimizing withdrawal symptoms and the likelihood of relapse in individuals with OUD.
Current treatment options for OUD often experience high relapse rates due to severe withdrawal symptoms. HBOT delivers oxygen in a pressurized environment and has shown preliminary effectiveness in reducing these symptoms, although the mechanisms behind its efficacy remain largely unclear.
Klausner’s research employs a controlled rodent model of heroin self-administration to assess both behavioral and biological responses to HBOT. By tracking changes in withdrawal signs and drug-seeking behavior, his study aims to evaluate whether this method could be an effective non-pharmacological addition to current treatment approaches.
Klausner expressed that this research aligns with his aspirations as a clinician. He stated, "The further expansion of my passion in research and the continuous pursuit of knowledge is what I look forward to gaining most. This experience will be quintessential in my evolution as a future veterinary practitioner dedicated to investigating unanswered questions in medicine."