Tuan Trang

How does our body tell us something is painful? Why do certain people go on to develop chronic pain whereas others, with apparently similar disorders or injuries, do not? And why is pain so difficult to treat? To begin to unravel the great paradox of pain, our research focuses on discovering the fundamental molecules and processes involved in chronic pain and enhancing the utility of opioid drugs in treating pain conditions. A strong focus of our research is the role of an understudied class of cells known as microglia, which are immune cells in the central nervous system, and the complex interplay between microglia and neurons in chronic pain and opioid analgesia. Understanding the key molecules and processes that underlie chronic pain and that contribute to the unwanted side effects of opioid use is a major step towards improving current therapies and identifying novel targets for creating entirely new, more effective strategies for treating pain. The discoveries arising from our work has direct and important benefits for the clinical management of pain conditions in both humans and animals.

We study the causes of chronic pain and the actions of opioid drugs at the level of genes and proteins to cells within the living organism. To do this we employ behavioural, biochemical, molecular, and cellular imaging approaches in whole animal and cell culture systems. 

Administrative Assistant:

Erica Thomas-Falconar
erica.thomasfalconar@ucalgary.ca