We are focused on how sensory neurons control pain and nociception.  We are particularly interested in two rapidly advancing areas that will improve our understanding of acute and chronic pain.  We are on the one hand studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for several pain conditions in translational experimental models, and on the other, we are exploring how members of the TRP family of ion channels control nociception and pain sensitivity. 

Earlier studies have identified endogenous agonists and modulators of TRPM8 and TRPA1.  We have also shown that TRPA1 is a molecular target for paracetamol and that TRPM8 is a neuronal osmosensor that controls eye-blinking frequency by sensing tear fluid osmolality.