The balance of pain: how the brain controls what is felt."

Central to the majority of my work so far has been a focus on pain research. I have found this extremely interesting and I am very enthusiastic about pursuing my PhD in the area of pain research particularly with a focus on drug development.
I believe I am particularly suitable for this project and have very relevant research experience. My masters project involved investigating the role of the histamine H3R in neuropathic pain and diabetes. A large component of this entailed testing a novel peripherally acting/ centrally- sparing histamine H3 receptor drug. We evaluated the analgesic effect of this drug on mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in the CCI neuropathic pain model using von Frey and Hargreaves tests.
Spinal cord and sciatic nerve were analysed using immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry with a focus during my masters project on the mTORC1 pathway and later during my research assistant work additionally looking at MAPKs role in the drug's alleviation of mechanical hypersensitivity as well as their co-localization with neurons, microglia, and astrocytes within the spinal dorsal horn.
Additionally, I have been able to gain a more rounded knowledge of the field of pain research through other work being conducted in Dr Obara's group focusing on opioid research and attending additional lectures such as a lecture by Professor Lumb at Durham University last week.
Additionally I am very excited about the opportunity to learn more about and contribute to the business side of a drug discovery company through the placement with Exonate Ltd.