Author

Joan B. Escobar

George Washington University

Listed by name: these papers carry no ORCID for this author, so different people with the same name may be mixed together.

Biology Disciplines

Click to filter author papers

Neuroscience· 1 Pharmacology & Toxicology· 1 Physiology· 1

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

Click to filter · or open tag

Approach:experimental assay· 3 Research Focus:host-pathogen & immune response· 2 Assay:electrophysiology· 1 Organism:mouse· 1 Organism:rat· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

David MendelowitziD· 3 shared Vsevolod Y. PolotskyiD· 3 shared John R. BetheaiD· 2 shared Matthew W. KayiD· 2 shared Olga DergachevaiD· 2 shared Anna Nilsson· 1 shared Bridget R. AlberiD· 1 shared Caitlin RibeiroiD· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2025-2026 · peak 2/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 32 mutual co-author links

Click any collaborator node to inspect or filter shared papers

Focal author (center)Selected co-authorORCID co-authorUnlinked name

Curved chords = mutual co-authorship

3 shared papersPhysiology

David MendelowitzORCID

Mutual co-authors in cluster

Author profile →

3 papers

Recent·Most cited

Melanocortin receptor 4 agonist setmelanotide treats opioid-induced respiratory depression

Mateus R. Amorim, Noah R Williams, Melanie Alexis Ruiz, Júnia L. de Deus, O Aung, Olga Dergacheva, Joan B. Escobar, Mi-Kyung Shin, Cole Winston, Thales Henrique do Carmo Furquim, Jeffrey S. Berger, David Mendelowitz, Vsevolod Y. Polotsky

This study shows setmelanotide reduces opioid-induced respiratory depression in mice without reversing analgesia.

bioRxiv · Mar 10, 2026 · PreprintPhysiology

Oxytocin treats respiratory depression and reduces mortality from fentanyl and the combination of xylazine-fentanyl

Joan B. Escobar, John Wainwright, X Wang, Olga Dergacheva, Matthew W. Kay, John R. Bethea, Vivek Jain, Vsevolod Y. Polotsky, David Mendelowitz

This study shows oxytocin improves survival and respiratory function in rats with opioid-induced respiratory depression caused by fentanyl or fentanyl-xylazine combinations, outperforming naloxone in some cases.

bioRxiv · Feb 24, 2026 · PreprintPharmacology & Toxicology

Oxytocin Receptor Expression and Activation in Parasympathetic Brainstem Cardiac Vagal Neurons

Xin Wang, Caitlin Ribeiro, Anna Nilsson, Joan B. Escobar, Bridget R. Alber, John R. Bethea, Vsevolod Y. Polotsky, Matthew W. Kay, Kathryn Jaques Schunke, David Mendelowitz

This study identifies OXT receptor expression in brainstem cardiac vagal neurons and shows that OXT selectively activates DMNX CVNs to induce bradycardia.

eNeuro · Aug 1, 2025Peer-reviewedNeuroscience