OUR RESEARCH
Modulation of spinal cord neural networks by dopaminergics in mouse models for Restless Legs Syndrome
The primary goal of this study is to reveal the mechanisms that underlie the modulations of identified spinal circuits by dopamine (DA) receptor agonists and antagonists in transgenic and inducible animal models for Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). RLS is a chronic sensorimotor disorder that affects sleep, and dopamine receptor agonists are a common treatment in RLS, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.
Developing biomarkers to identify and predict opioid responsiveness in pain patients
Although opioids are highly effective and needed for acute pain, over time they often can lead to addiction and the development of tolerance if not prescribed correctly. Moreover, opioids are not universally effective in the treatment of long-term pain, achieving a beneficial effect in only less than 20% of patients. The aim of this project is the development of a personalized medicine approach by identifying blood-based biomarkers that will predict the responsiveness of pain patients to opioids, prior to the onset of the treatment.
The role of dopamine modulation in controlling opioid responsiveness in chronic pain
Chronic pain and the opioid crisis are heavily interconnected. Chronic pain is initially very responsive to morphine and its derivatives, and morphine tolerance involves interactions between the µ-opioid receptor (MOR) and the dopamine (DA) system the D1 and D3 receptor subtypes. There are currently no long-term treatment options for chronic pain that maintain the initial efficacy of opioids. The current tenet is that the development of opioid tolerance is dependent on a DA D1 receptor (D1R). We have identified key modulators of DA receptor and MOR interactions that may bypass this pathway.
