Kayleigh KanakisRecipient of the John & Eynd Miles StudentshipHello, my name is Kayleigh, and I have recently started my PhDtitled "Defining nociresponsive BA3a as a target to treat chronicpain". With a background in neuroscience and as a patient withchronic headaches, I hope that my contributions to the field willpave the way for more effective treatments for chronic painconditions.Nociception, the neural process of encoding potentially harmfulstimuli, serves as the body's early warning system against threats.However, when this protective mechanism becomes dysregulated,it can lead to central sensitisation—a state of heightened responsiveness in the centralnervous system. This maladaptive process is thought to ultimately result in the chronificationof pain, where acute pain evolves into a persistent condition that significantly impactsquality of life.My research will focus on a brain area called nociresponsive BA3a, a small region of thecerebral cortex that lies deep in a fold (sulcus) of the brain at the border between the brainregions that are involved in sensing touch and in controlling movement. Previous researchhas indicated that this region is involved in processing nociceptive information and mayplay a crucial role in the integration of sensory and motor responses to painful stimuli.However, its precise function in pain processing and its potential involvement in chronic painconditions remain largely unexplored.This work will first aim to define the properties of nociresponsive BA3a by mapping theconnectivity and activation patterns of this region in response to various nociceptive stimulito determine its role in nociception. Second, depending on the results from part one, we willbe investigating the role of this brain region in the transition from acute to chronic pain touncover potential biomarkers or mechanisms involved in pain chronification.This comprehensive approach has the potential to outline nociceptive BA3a as a target forthe treatment of chronic pain. If our hypotheses are confirmed, it could open up newavenues for therapeutic interventions, such as targeted neuromodulation techniques thatspecifically target BA3a function.Ultimately, this research not only contributes to our fundamental understanding of painprocessing in the brain, but also holds promise for developing more effective, personalisedtreatments for chronic pain sufferers. I am deeply committed to advancing this field andhopefully improving the lives of patients afflicted with chronic pain.
It seems that your browser's pop-up blocker has prevented us from opening a new window/tab. Please click the button below to open the link manually.
