Molecular pharmacology of mechanisms and treatments for neuropathic pain in the sensory nervous system
Summary
Our group takes a cell to system neurobiological approach to investigating causes and treatments for chronic pain states that are caused by inflammation and damage to the nervous system.
Supervisor(s)
Research Location
Kolling Institute, Pain Management Research Institute, Northern Clinical School
Program Type
PHD
Synopsis
Our group is using a multidisciplinary approach to study different aspects of pain caused by damage to the nervous system. We use electrophysiology and cell imaging to study changes in the function of nerve cells in sensory dorsal root ganglia and the central nervous system. These may be caused by nerve damage, or by neurochemicals or drugs that modulate pain processing. We also use a variety of neuroanatomical techniques to study the functional organization of pain pathways. Lastly, well established behavioral testing methods are used to study pain processing directly. We are currently offering PhD projects in the three major areas being researched by our lab: 1) spinal cord injury pain, 2) estrogen and sex-related pain modulation, and 3) molecular neuropharmacology of neuropathic pain modulation in peripheral sensory neurons.
Additional Information
Techniques performed in laboratory: patch clamp electrophysiologiy, neuronal cell culture, live cell imaging, confocal microscopy, brain mapping (in rodents), behavioral testing Top-up scholarships may be available to APA holders and equivalents on a competitive basis. Possible research areas for PhD topics include:
- Spinal cord injury pain
- Electrophysiological mechanisms of pain generation in the injured spinal cord
- Regulation of emotional responses to pain by the spino-parabrachial-amygdala nociceptive pathway
- Opioid-induced hyperalgesia
- Peripheral pain
- Estrogen modulation of nociceptive neurons and gender-specific pain regulation
- Cellular mechanisms of opioid receptor tolerance
- Experimental strategies using neurturin and the GFR ligand family for preventing postsurgical pain
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Keywords
Pain, analgesia, cystitis, neuropathic pain, neuropharmacology, neurophysiology, neuroanatomy electrophysiology, opioids, Pain & Trauma, Neuroscience & psychology, Pharmacology & therapeutics
Opportunity ID
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is: 157