KATP channels in normal and injured sensory transduction

描述(由申请人提供)：KO8奖候选人获得希腊雅典国立大学和卡波迪亚大学的医学博士学位，以及威斯康星医学院的硕士学位。他在后一家机构接受了麻醉学培训，获得了疼痛管理方面的奖学金，目前是那里的麻醉学助理教授。他参与了与实验性神经病理性疼痛的病理生理学和药理学相关的基础神经学研究，并发展了膜片钳电生理学方面的技能。K08奖项提供的机会和支持将大大增强他在翻译基础神经生理学研究方面实现独立的未来前景。通过该奖项的开发计划的目标是：1)确保没有阻碍的时间来拓宽科学知识，提高研究技能，并完善关键的分析能力；2)提供课程作业和互动环境，以扩大医生-科学家的独立性；3)调查在正常情况下和神经损伤后初级传入神经元中KATP通道的分子药理学和功能--导致神经病理性疼痛；以及4)发展规划方案和收集初步数据的技能，以便进行进一步的、更高级的资助研究。开发计划将通过提供电生理、分子和遗传技术方面的高级培训，以及在丰富和多产的学术环境中，以及通过渐进的课程工作，使候选人能够实现这些目标。他的努力将由一个跨学科的调查小组指导，这些调查人员在与他的项目相关的特定研究领域拥有有案可查的专业知识。在这一背景下，候选人将继续进行一项结构化的研究计划，旨在扩大他的技术和科学能力，并揭示神经元KATP通道在调节神经元兴奋性和细胞在DRG水平上的存活的作用。该奖项将支持候选人过渡到自主成为内科科学家，并提供初步数据，从而为疼痛周围神经病机制的研究提供独立资金。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The candidate for the KO8 Award earned an MD and PhD degree from the National and Capodistrian University in Athens, Greece, and an MS degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He trained in anesthesia with a fellowship in pain management at the latter institution, where he is currently an Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology. He has participated in basic neurological research relevant to pathophysiology and pharmacology of experimental neuropathic pain, and has developed skills in patch clamp electrophysiology. Opportunities and support provided by the K08 award will significantly amplify his future prospects in achieving independence in translational basic neurophysiologic research. Objectives of the development program through this award are to: 1) ensure unimpeded time to broaden scientific knowledge, enhance research skills, and refine critical analytical abilities; 2) provide course work and interactive settings that will expand independence as a physician-scientist; 3) investigate the molecular pharmacology and function of KATP channels in primary afferent neurons under normal conditions and after neurologic injury-that results in neuropathic pain; and 4) develop skills in planning protocols and collecting preliminary data for further, more advanced funded investigation. The development program will enable the candidate to achieve these goals by providing advanced training in electrophysiological, molecular, and genetic techniques and in a rich and productive academic environment, as well as through progressive course-work. He will be guided in his efforts by an interdisciplinary group of investigators with a documented expertise in the specific research fields relevant to his program. Within this context, the candidate will pursue a structured research program designed to expand his technical and scientific abilities and to reveal the role of neuronal KATP channels in modulating neuronal excitability and cell survival at the DRG level. This award would support the transition of the candidate to autonomy as a physician scientist, and provide preliminary data leading to independent funding of research on mechanisms of painful peripheral neuropathy.