TRP Channels in Discogenic Back Pain

Chronic low back pain (LBP) accounts for the majority of costs, sick leave, and individual suffering in the US. Painful degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD), also termed degenerative disc disease (DDD), is a major contributor to chronic LBP. Nociception in DDD is thought to be driven by increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines at the degenerated site. Current DDD treatments focus on pain reduction but do not target the molecular mechanisms of the disease. To improve patient care – especially in light of the current opioid epidemic in the US – the identification of specific drug targets for DDD represents a high research priority.

TRPC6, a transmembrane ion channel, has recently emerged as a potential therapeutic target in musculoskeletal diseases. The central hypothesis of this study is that TRPC6 is a mechanistic mediator in DDD that affects IVD inflammation and degeneration, and that pharmacological TRPC6 inhibition will reduce DDD. The selected Ph.D. Student will investigate the relevance of TRPC6 expression in DDD and will determine the impact of blocking TPRC6 in vitro by analyzing (human primary IVD cells), followed by in vivo testing in an inflammatory rodent DDD model.

Suitable candidates will have a background in cell/molecular biology and are interested to work with cell culture models AND animal models. A background in either musculoskeletal research or TRP channels is a big plus.

The project will be conducted at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Upstate NY. The animal experiments will take place at Mount Sinai in New York City. The selected candidate will hence spend several weeks in NYC.

Application Package
1. Letter of Interest
2. CV
3. Transcripts
4. Two reference letters

To submit your documents, either use the form provided through FindaPhD, or send an email to [Email Address Removed]

For more information on the lab, visit: https://pht180.rit.edu/wuertzlab