Research highlights and societal impact

We aim to understand the mechanisms underlying the analgesic effects of opioid, cannabinoid, and serotonin receptor drugs and to identify new molecular targets for potential analgesics. We use electrophysiology to examine the effects of these drugs on native neurons involved in detecting and modulating pain signals as well studying a range of recombinant human G protein coupled receptors and ion channels expressed in cell lines. In many experiments the anatomical target of the neurons we record from is established by prior in vivo labelling of head structures with fluorescent tracers, in order to learn about sensory afferents involved in specific pain states such as migraine and jaw muscle pain.

The Sensory Neuroscience Group was established in 2001, and from 2003 to 2008 was located at the Pain Management Research Institute, Royal North Shore Hospital. Our research is primarily supported by grants from the NH&MRC of Australia and the Australian Research Council, but we are also very grateful for funding from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and past support from the Northern Sydney Area Health Service.