OVERVIEW
Chronic pain and itch present a major and growing challenge to clinical practice and basic science. In past decades, remarkable progress has been made in understanding molecular mediators that govern activity across pain and itch pathways. However, we still know little on how sensory information is transmitted and processed in the central nervous system. Sensory information is not just simply transmitted via specific sensory circuits or labeled lines. Rather, there are complex interactions among different modalities, such as itch suppressed by painful stimuli and pain inhibited by inputs from low threshold mechanoreceptors. Moreover, the same stimuli, such as innocuous mechanical stimuli, can produce pain following inflammation or nerve injury. Mapping the underlying circuits has been long considered as one of the great challenges for the somatosensory field. Our lab is focused on dissecting somatosensory circuits to process different modalities, such as pain and itch.
CURRENT PROJECT
1. Identify spinal neurons transmitting thermal versus mechanical pain.
2. Identify spinal circuit transmitting mechanical itch.
3. Characterize the peripheral inputs for mechanical pain and itch.
4. Dissect descending pathways that modulate pain and itch.
News
- “The kainate receptor GluK2 mediates cold sensing in mice” makes the cover of Nature Neuroscience’s April issue
- “The kainate receptor GluK2 mediates cold sensing in mice” has been accepted for publication
- Congratulations Victor!
- Congratulations Dr. Duan!
- Congratulations to Danyal for graduating with Honors in CMBS!
Contact
Dr. Bo Duan
Associate Professor
Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
University of Michigan
Address:
1105 N University (Biological Science Building) 4264
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048
Tel: (734) 647-4359 (office)
(734) 615-7161 (lab)
Email: bduan@umich.edu