IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics (SORA)

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1 IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics (SORA) Department of Anaesthetics Pain Medicine and Intensive Care At Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Job description Job title: London Pain Consortium Postdoctoral Research Fellow (post 3) Department/Division: Department of Anaesthetics Pain Medicine and Intensive Care/ Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics (SORA) Grade: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Responsible to: Dr Andrew S.C. Rice, Reader in Pain Research, Department of Anaesthetics Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Imperial College Location: Imperial College, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital campus Dates: start date to be confirmed duration 36 months Summary of Post: This post is funded by the Wellcome Trust as part of the Strategic Award made to the London Pain Consortium (see The Fellow will execute the research project entitled The neuroanatomical and neuropharmacological substrates of the interaction between neuropathic pain and fear/anxiety. 1. Summary of Project: We have previously described the measurement of anxiety-like behaviours in rat models of neuropathic pain and this project will extend these findings by elucidating the neuroanatomical/pharmacological basis of this behaviour. We have targeted the pain co-morbidity of anxiety because moderate/severe anxiety is prevalent in neuropathic pain patients and we have shown that pain related anxiety correlates with an increased use of health care resources. This project will exploit an existing portfolio of clinically relevant models of neuropathic pain, including traumatic, viral and drug-induced neuropathies. Our general strategy of identifying brain targets will 1

2 be driven by a close interaction with the parallel London Pain Consortium research theme which will use functional brain imaging to investigate closely phenotyped neuropathic pain patients. Based on the existing literature, the amygdala (CeA) and entorhinal cortex (EC) will be the initial targets. The role of the CeA and EC will be initially confirmed in studies using stereotactic electrolytic lesioning or local anaesthetic injection in neuropathic rats and our battery of anxiety paradigms. We will then refine our studies using site-specific neuronal ablation, with saporin-conjugates or sirna to delete defined targets, for instance the role of amygdala NK1 and EC cholinergic neurones. For selected anatomical targets, novel molecular targets will be identified by gene microarray studies using dissected brain tissue from neuropathic rats. Key references: Hasnie, F. S., Breuer, J., Parker, S., Wallace, V., Blackbeard, J., Lever, I., Kinchington, P. R., Dickenson, A. H., Pheby, T., & Rice, A. S. C. 2007, "Further characterization of a rat model of varicella zoster virus-associated pain: Relationship between mechanical hypersensitivity and anxiety-related behaviour, and the influence of analgesic drugs", Neuroscience, vol. 144, no. 4, pp Ploghaus, A., Narain, C., Beckmann, C. F., Clare, S., Bantick, S., Wise, R., Matthews, P. M., Rawlins, J. N., & Tracey, I. 2001, "Exacerbation of pain by anxiety is associated with activity in a hippocampal network", J Neurosci., vol. 21, no. 24, pp Wallace, V. C. J., Blackbeard, J., Segerdahl, A., Hasnie, F. S., Pheby, T., McMahon, S. B., & Rice, A. S. C. 2007a, "Characterisation of rodent models of HIV-gp120 and anti-retroviral associated neuropathic pain", Brain, vol. 130, no. 10, pp Wallace, V. C. J., Blackbeard, J., Pheby, T., Segerdahl, A. R., Davies, M., Hasnie, F., Hall, S., McMahon, S. B., & Rice, A. S. C. 2007b, "Pharmacological, behavioural and mechanistic analysis of HIV-1 gp120 induced painful neuropathy", Pain, vol. 133, no. 1-3, pp Core duties: To conduct the project The neuroanatomical and neuropharmacological substrates of the interaction between neuropathic pain and fear/anxiety To finalise the study protocol with Dr Rice and other investigators. To provide Dr Rice with written weekly progress reports by . To arrange regular meetings with Dr Rice to report on progress with, and discuss, the project. To provide the London Pain Consortium with regular progress reports and presentations, when requested. To prepare, submit and present the results of the project for poster or oral presentations at conferences, as directed by Dr Rice To prepare, submit and present the results of the project for peer review publication, as directed by Dr Rice To interact with, and keep informed, other members of senior members of the research team To ensure that the project is conducted in accordance with all statutory, College and Departmental requirements for safety, animal welfare and good laboratory practice. To ensure that all other regulatory, health and safety, and similar requirements are met. 2

3 To attend weekly pain group journal club, lab meetings and London Pain Consortium activities, as required To adhere to the highest standards of research conduct General administrative duties Liaison with other staff in the department, College and London Pain Consortium To ensure that all other relevant College regulations and procedures are met To work at other London Pain Consortium sites, as required by Dr Rice Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities. 3

4 PERSON SPECIFICATION Essential Desirable Qualifications PhD or equivalent Home Office modules 1-4 courses for personal licence holders Experience Knowledge of pain and general neuroscience research methods Working with laboratory animals Postdoctoral research experience Experience with animal models of pain Scientific writing Scientific presentations Experience with stereotactic brain lesioning/injection Experience with behavioural assessment of rodent behaviour Immunohistochemistry Brain dissection Knowledge Working knowledge of ethical and other regulatory aspects of laboratory research. Solid knowledge base of pain and general neuroscience Computer literacy Governance and standards of laboratory research, including that related to laboratory animals Skills Handling and care of laboratory rodents Rodent surgery and anaesthesia Animal models of neuropathic pain Stereotactic brain lesioning/injection in rodents 4 Behavioural assessment of rodent

5 Scientific writing Scientific presentations Time Management Efficient Administration behaviour Immunohistochemistry Brain dissection General laboratory skills, etiquette and practice Attitude Team Player Flexible Proactive 5