Determining the role of RorB spinal interneurons in acute and chronic pain states

MVLS COLLEGE STUDENTSHIPS 2017

Up to 10 fully funded studentship positions are available in the College of Medical Veterinary, Medical and Life Sciences. Projects are available from each of the research institutes within the College. Our next intake will be for PhD projects commencing October 2017.

The positions are fully funded for 3.5 years, and includes an annual consumable allowance.

All projects can be viewed here: http://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/graduateschool/mvlscollegestudentships/projects/ - NOTE: DETAIL WITHIN STEP 6 OF APPLICATION PROCESS THE SUPERVISOR AND PROJECT TITLE.

Supervisors:
Dr David I Hughes - [Email Address Removed]
Prof Andrew J Todd - [Email Address Removed]

Abstract:
Pain remains a major unmet clinical need, and one of the main obstacles to the development of new therapies is our limited understanding of how neuronal circuits in the spinal cord transmit and modulate nociceptive information before this is relayed to the brain. This project forms part of an on-going multidisciplinary study to determine the functional significance of a population of spinal interneurons (Rorβ cells) in modulating pain perception. We believe that under normal circumstances Rorβ cells play a critical role in suppressing the passage of information conveyed by mechanical pain fibres into the central nervous system. Chronic pain states that develop after peripheral nerve injury present a major clinical problem, and one feature of these pathological conditions is the development of hyperalgesia, where the perception of mechanical pain is increased. A second aim of this project is to define how the role of Rorβ cells changes in chronic pain states, and determine whether restoring their normal function will alleviate hyperalgesia. This project uses an array of anatomical, electrophysiological, optogenetic, chemogenetic and behavioural techniques to study the role of Rorβ cells under normal and pathological conditions, and students will have the opportunity to gain training and expertise in each.