Project Overview
Chronic pain affects one in five Canadians and is more common in women than in men. Despite decades of research, many new pain treatments fail in clinical trials. A major reason for this is that we still do not fully understand how pain signals are processed in the human nervous system, or how biological sex and hormones influence those processes. This research focuses on the spinal cord, a critical relay center where pain signals are first processed before reaching the brain. We are studying how estradiol, a naturally occurring form of estrogen, changes communication between nerve cells in spinal pain pathways. Estradiol is known to influence brain function, but its role in spinal pain circuits, and how it differs between males and females, remains poorly understood.
To address this gap, we will study spinal cord tissue from two clinically relevant sources: donated tissue from companion dogs following owner-elected humane euthanasia and human organ donors. Dogs frequently experience naturally occurring chronic pain, making them an important bridge between laboratory research and human patients. Human donor tissue allows us to directly investigate how pain-processing circuits function in people. By comparing findings across species and between males and females, we will determine whether hormone-related mechanisms of pain are conserved and clinically relevant. This work will help explain why chronic pain affects people differently and why treatments may not work equally well for everyone. By identifying hormone-sensitive mechanisms in human pain circuits, the project aims to inform the development of more precise, sex-informed approaches to pain treatment.
This program builds collaboration between neuroscience, clinical medicine, and veterinary medicine, and trains the next generation of researchers in translational brain science. Ultimately, this work aims to improve understanding of chronic pain and support the development of more effective and equitable care.
Partners & Donors
Azrieli Foundation
