Research summary
A quarter of Canadians over the age of 15 suffer from chronic pain, and it is estimated that this health problem costs the Canadian economy more than $40 billion per year. Chronic pain is also a major risk factor for depression and anxiety, with more than 60% of chronic pain sufferers developing these conditions. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment because we don’t fully understand what causes chronic pain. As Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience of Pain, Dr. Giannina Descalzi aims to fill this knowledge gap.
She and her research team are using next-generation RNA sequencing and viral-mediated gene transfer alongside in-vivo circuit interrogation techniques, such as cellular imaging and optogenetics. Their work is uncovering how acute pain becomes chronic and how this can trigger depression and anxiety. By pinpointing the biological mechanisms involved, Descalzi’s team hopes to identify new targets for treating these hard-to-manage conditions.