Peripheral pain pathways

There is a clinical need for a better understanding of pain in order to develop new drugs. Professor Wood has shown previously that different sets of sensory neurons evoke distinct pain sensations. During this Award, he will use a genetic approach and employ novel transgenic mice to define the sets of peripheral sensory neurons responsible for distinct pain sensations and to investigate how these neurons transmit information to the central nervous system. His aim is to identify the mechanisms and molecules associated with distinct pain sensations, focusing on mechanical and cold allodynia and visceral pain. He will also investigate the contribution of sensory neurons, normally associated with innocuous sensations, to pain sensations in neuropathic pain states.