Our laboratory focuses on the mechanisms underlying the development of persistent chronic pain using optogenetics, chemogenetics, in vivo imaging, gene targeting, electrophysiological, pharmacological and behavioral approaches in wild type and genetically modified mice.
Our research interests include:
1. To delineate the role of anterior nucleus of paraventricular thalamus (PVA) in chronic pain. Our studies show that PVA is involved in the development and maintenance of chronic in several rodent models. We are examining the circuits through which PVA involves in chronic pain.
2. To understand the formation of hyperalgesia priming. Chronic pain can be initiated by one or more acute tissue insults to sensitize the neurons into the primed state; however, the mechanism underlying the priming effect is unclear. We are investigating the role of neurons and non-neuronal cells in hyperalgesia priming using acid-induced muscle pain (AIMP) model.
3. To investigate whether aging accelerates the development or duration of chronic pain.
Our Team