Lucas Wittenkeller, BS

Lucas Wittenkeller received his B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology from North Central College in 2020 where he studied the environmental contributions to stimulant use and relapse susceptibility. He then worked as a Research Assistant at Loyola University of Chicago where he used cellular and transgenic animal models to understand physiological mechanisms underlying disease states.

In 2023, Lucas joined the Divison of Pharmaceutical Sciences where he is now a PhD Candidate working with Dr's. Anna Kruyer to identify novel mechanisms contributing to opioid relapse that supports the development of new pharmacotherapies for substance use and reward-related disorders. Additionally, Lucas has published multiple state-of-the-field reviews caputring ongoing psychedelic clinical trials for psychiatric and mood disorders in the wake of regulatory support for potential drug approval.

B.S. Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology: North Central College Naperville, IL, 2020 (Substance use disorders)

2021 -2023 Research Assistant I, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL

2023 -2023 Research Assistant II, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL

Peer Reviewed Publications

Wittenkeller, L., Gudelsky, G., Winhusen, T.J., Amato, D.  (2025). Psychedelics as pharmacotherapeutics for substance use disorders: A scoping review on clinical trials and perspectives on underlying neurobiology. British Journal of Pharmacology, 183 (14) , 4022-4047More Information

Alvarez-Arce, A., Fritzmann, G. E., Burnham, H. V., Araujo, K. N., Pena, A., Wittenkeller, L., Cizauskas, H., Barefield, D. Y.  (2026). Myosin-binding protein H-like nonsense variants exhibit impaired sarcomere incorporation and alter contractility. Journal of General Physiology, 158 (1) More Information

2026 Leadership in Pharmaceutical Sciences

2026 Exemplary College Service Award

2026 Excellence in Peer Leadership Award

2026 New Initiatives Award

2026: American Association for Colleges of Pharmacy

2025: British Pharmacological Society

2026: Society for Neuroscience

Academic - MSB 3102
Phone: 815-278-0211
wittenls@mail.uc.edu