Jacob Layne’s journey to the National Center for Wellness and Recovery (NCWR) includes unexpected turns and the pursuit of knowledge. It all began in high school when Layne tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing football, leading to extensive physical therapy. This experience sparked his interest in health sciences, prompting him to enroll in the Health and Exercise Science pre-physical therapy program at Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa
A Change in Direction
His career path took a significant turn when he started working as a physical therapist technician. He quickly realized the routine of physical therapy did not satisfy his curiosity about the underlying science of diseases and treatments. This realization led him to switch his major to molecular biology, where he could dive into scientific research. Layne went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Medical Molecular Biology from ORU and is working on his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS).
Joining NCWR and Focus on Opioid Use Disorder
He found a mentor in Craig Werner, Ph.D., NCWR’s associate director of Neuroscience. Werner said, “Jake is an exceptional grad student and young scientist. His desire to help people and his interest in learning set the foundation for a very bright future.”
Layne’s research at NCWR focuses on opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain management, exploring non-addictive treatment options and understanding the brain’s circuitry underlying pain and addiction. His work aims to develop innovative solutions for pain management that don’t rely on traditional opioids.
Goals and Future Aspirations
At NCWR, he hopes to keep learning more about miniscope technology in drug self-administration studies. This cutting-edge approach could provide new insights into addiction and pain management. Jacob’s ultimate goal is to become a neurologist, combining clinical practice with research to continue exploring the intricacies of the brain and addiction. “I’d like to see patients and have a lab where I can continue to work on research projects,” Layne explained. For now, as he continues to learn at NCWR his work not only contributes to advancing the field of addiction research but also serves as reminder to others about the possibilities within the scientific community in Tulsa.
Fun Facts:
Layne loves to hunt, particularly deer hunting and searching for antlers, a hobby he pursues almost every weekend. He likes movies, especially Christopher Nolan Movies. He is a college football fan and loves to cheer on OSU.