Exploring Endogenous Opioid Mechanisms in Neuropathic Pain for Improved Therapies

Organisation / Company CNRS Alsace Laboratory INCI - Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives (UPR 3212) Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Keywords: neuropathic pain, opioid system, analgesia, neuropharmacology

Offer description: Neuropathic pain affects 7-8% of the population and has an annual economic cost of billion euros in Europe. The high prevalence and complexity of neuropathic pain syndromes represent a highly challenging medical need requiring effective therapeutic strategies. To date, opiates targeting mu opioid receptors are prescribed to 40% of patients.

However, repeated activation of these receptors induces side effects such as tolerance requiring increasing the dose to maintain the analgesic effect and can also lead to addiction.

Our team investigates the molecular mechanisms by which the endogenous opioid system operates within neural circuits and adapts to chronic stimulation. A major axis explores the alterations of endogenous opioid controls in neuropathic conditions and their impact on the effectiveness of opiate treatments, two complementary aspects essential to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for pain management.

Special attention is given to the specific molecular and cellular mechanisms resulting from mu and delta opioid receptors association to determine their impact on the cellular physiology and behavioral responses and to evaluate their potential as novel therapeutic targets. Neuropathic pain being more prevalent in females, a focus is also set on identifying the determinants of sexual differences in analgesia and opiate tolerance.

To these aims, our team combines mouse models and analysis from molecular and cellular to integrated levels, mingling biochemical approaches, high-resolution fluorescence imaging, primary cultures, brain and spinal cord slices, electrophysiology, mass spectrometry and animal behavior.

Who can apply?

Researchers of any nationality who:

• Have completed a PhD or will complete it at the date of the call deadline (September 2026).
• Have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research at the time of the call deadline.
• Have not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline.

Beware that applicants who have applied to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 call and received an evaluation below 80% are not eligible for an application in 2026.

How to apply?

We encourage all motivated and eligible postdoctoral researchers to send their expressions of interest to the supervisor’s e‑mail address before 24th April 2026.

Your application shall include:

• a CV (5 pages max)
• a cover letter outlining your research background and its synergies with the supervisor’s field and/or the proposed research topic.

Estimated timetable:

• Deadline for sending an expression of interest: 24th April 2026
• Selection of the applicant: May 2026 at the latest