My research is focused on understanding cellular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity involved in brain injury (stroke or brain ischemia) and chronic pain using multiple techniques.

Currently, my focus is brainstem pain-modulating systems, including rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) and periaqueductal grey (PAG). These systems are also an important substrate for opioids and cannabinoids. For the past decade, almost all cellular/molecular studies of RVM neuron properties following persistent inflammation have employed slices from neonatal (postnatal day <18) because the organization and abundance of myelinated fibers in this region make it a challenging area for whole-cell patch-clamp recording in adults. This has become increasingly problematic as many laboratories are now finding significant differences in the function of the RVM between neonatal and adult rats. We pioneered whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from adult RVM slices and have demonstrated that GABAergic signaling and endocannabinoid modulations in RVM neurons undergo significant developmental changes. We also identified changes in cannabinoid regulation of RVM neurons in chronic pain states.  Using different animal models of chronic pain, we are interested in identify the plasticity of these pain-modulating systems. We are using in vivo pain assessments, in vitro electrophysiological recordings from adult brainstem slices, combined with optogenetic manipulation of terminals in the RVM or PAG for these studies.