Our research bridges behavioural neuroscience with molecular biology and systems neuroscience to investigate gene expression networks the molecular and cellular mechanisms within the brain that promote the development of chronic pain and comorbid anxiodepressive states. The goal of our research is to is to determine the fundamental processes involved in pain, and to understand how they promote the transition from acute to chronic pain in humans and animals.
One in four Canadians over the age of 15, and millions world-wide, suffer from chronic pain. Regrettably, current treatment for chronic pain is woefully inadequate, and more than half of all people suffering from chronic pain report that current treatments provide little to no relief of their pain. There is thus an urgent need for the development of effective therapeutic strategies to alleviate chronic pain symptoms. This requires a thorough understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms involved in chronic pain development and comorbid psychopathologies. Our main research goal is to determine these mechanisms, and discover novel targets to breakthroughs towards treatment and prevention.