Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy

Research Area:  Mechanisms of mechanotransduction and their relationship with acute and chronic pain

While spending time in the clinic as a physical therapist, I quickly became aware of the disconnect between clinical practice and basic research findings. I took a specific interest in patients with neurological disorders such as chronic pain and Parkinson’s Disease. Because of my interest in translational neurological research, I entered the Neuroscience Doctoral Program in 2010 and joined the Stucky lab shortly thereafter.

My research in the Stucky lab centers around mechanotransduction – basically, how our cells are able to sense tactile stimuli. This is especially important for patients with chronic pain syndromes because these conditions are often associated with a hypersensitivity to touch. By learning how mechanotransduction works, we hope to better treat situations where the processing of mechanical stimuli has become pathological.