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

到目前为止，我的大部分工作都集中在疼痛研究上。我发现这非常有趣，我非常热衷于在疼痛研究领域攻读博士学位，尤其是药物开发。我认为我特别适合这个项目，并且有非常相关的研究经验。我的硕士课题是研究组胺H3R在神经性疼痛和糖尿病中的作用。其中很大一部分需要测试一种新的外周作用/中枢保护组胺H3受体药物。我们采用von Frey和Hargreaves试验评估了该药物对CCI神经性疼痛模型机械和热超敏反应的镇痛作用。使用免疫印迹和免疫组织化学分析脊髓和坐骨神经，重点是在我的硕士项目mTORC1途径期间，后来在我的研究助理工作期间，另外还研究了mapk在药物减轻机械超敏感性中的作用，以及它们与脊髓背角内的神经元、小胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞的共定位。此外，通过Obara博士的小组在阿片类药物研究方面的其他工作，以及上周杜伦大学Lumb教授的讲座，我对疼痛研究领域有了更全面的了解。此外，我很高兴有机会通过Exonate Ltd.的职位安排，了解更多关于药物发现公司的业务方面并为其做出贡献。

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.