A major interest in my lab is to use microfluidic cultures to grow neurons responsible for the transmission of pain signals, in a way that closely mimics their functionality in the body. We believe that using such sophisticated organ-in-a-dish models, will help to unravel the mechanisms of pathological pain, and eventually reduce the number of animals used in biomedical research. ‘Pain-in-a-dish', is a microfluidic culture model of peripheral pain system developed in my lab is now being widely applied to research into molecular mechanisms of peripheral pain.

Please see my Research Staff Profile for more detail

Key publications:

• Vysokov et al., 2019. The role of NaV channels in synaptic transmission after axotomy in a microfluidic culture platform. Sci Rep.
• Tsantoulas et al., 2013. Probing Functional Properties of Nociceptive Axons Using a Microfluidic Culture System. Plos One.
• Cho et al., 2012. The calcium-activated chloride channel anoctamin 1 acts as a heat sensor in nociceptive neurons. Nature Neuroscience.
• Raouf et al., 2018. Inhibition of somatosensory mechanotransduction by annexin A6. Science Signaling.

Key collaborators:

• Professor Stephen McMahon, King's College London
• Professor John Wood, University College London
• Professor Peter McNaughton, King's College London