Research Description
Pain is a complex and multidimensional experience with sensory, emotional, and cognitive components. The members of the Scherrer Lab aim to elucidate the mechanisms by which our nervous system generates the different dimensions of pain experience, at the genetic, molecular, cellular, neural circuit, and behavioral levels. We also seek to resolve the mechanisms of action of opioids and understand how these drugs alter activity in neural circuits to produce pain relief, but also harmful side effects such as tolerance, addiction and respiratory depression. To this aim, we investigate the functional organization of our endogenous opioid system and the localization, trafficking and signaling properties of opioid receptors in neurons. Collectively, these studies deepen our comprehension of pain neurobiology and of the mechanisms of action of opioids to develop more effective and safer treatments against pain and opioid addiction.
Awards & Honors
2023 NIH HEAL Initiative Director’s Award for Excellence in Research in the Pain and Addiction Fields
2021 Brain Research Foundation Scientific Innovations Award
2020 McKnight Foundation Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award
2017 New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Robertson Neuroscience Investigator Award
2015 International Narcotics Research Conference (INRC) Young Investigator Award
2014 Rita Allen Foundation / American Pain Society (APS) Scholar Award
2011 NIH/NIDA K99R00 Pathway to Independence Award
2009 International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Fellowship
Affiliations
