This $597,999 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under the Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (CFDA 93.853) program supports research to understand the neuronal populations and central sensitization mechanisms underlying mechanical allodynia in the dorsal horn.
The key objectives are to: 1) identify the excitatory neuron populations that convey mechanical allodynia in response to different injury types (inflammatory, neuropathic, diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapeutic), and the synaptic connectivity and sensitization mechanisms; and 2) determine where in the network the inhibitory neuron populations gate mechanical allodynia and the specific excitatory neurons they regulate. The research utilizes spatial transcriptomics, chemogenetics, circuit tracing, electrophysiology, and proteomic analyses to provide an essential framework of the dorsal horn mechanical allodynia circuitry. This work will reveal new therapeutic targets for treating persistent pain conditions.
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