NeuroPain

Pain and psychopathology

Leader: Dr. Ipek YALCIN
Research unit: Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience (INCI) UPR 3212

Our research focuses on chronic pain, in particular neuropathic pain, which is caused by a lesion or pathology of the nervous system. We study the treatments, particularly antidepressants, as well as the affective and anxiety-depressive consequences. We also have a strong expertise in neuroanatomy and study the circuits underlying various components of pain, emotions and the control of aminergic systems.

Life adversity and pain

Leader: Pr. Pierrick POISBEAU, Pr. Eric SALVAT, Pr. Vincent LELIEVRE, Pr. Pierre KUHN
Research unit: Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience (INCI) UPR 3212

The laboratory project studies the impact of adverse childhood events on the health trajectory, in particular chronic pain. This pain, which becomes a disease when it persists, affects sensory, emotional and cognitive aspects. The aim is to understand the links between these events and the onset of chronic pain. A multidimensional approach is adopted, involving humans and animals, in neurodevelopment and adulthood. In vulnerable adults who have suffered trauma, innovative strategies such as hypnosis, virtual reality and physical activity are explored to improve non-pharmacological treatments.

Opioid system, nociception and pain

Leader: Dr. Dominique MASSOTTE
Research unit: Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience (INCI) UPR 3212

Affecting 7-8% of the population, neuropathic pain generates considerable economic costs in Europe. It results from damage or disease of the somatosensory system, affecting sensory nerves and neuronal networks. Its management is complex, and current treatments (antidepressants, anticonvulsants) are moderately effective. Opiates, although used, induce side effects such as tolerance. Identifying alterations in endogenous opioid control is essential to improving treatments. The project aims to investigate these mechanisms, taking gender differences into account and using mouse models and multidisciplinary approaches.

Pain and ageing

Leader: Pr. André DUFOUR
Research unit: Laboratory of Cognitive and Adaptative Neuroscience (LNCA) UMR 7364

Our team is interested in the problems of pain and ageing according to two approaches: 1. Chronic pain and cognition in ageing: this work studies the origin of the greater vulnerability to chronic pain that elderly people with mild cognitive deficits seem to suffer. 2. Modification of pain perception with age: this work attempts to understand the mechanisms by which pain thresholds, particularly thermal, are increased in the elderly. All our studies are based on an electrophysiological approach (evoked potentials) and sensory quantification (Quantitative Sensory Testing).

Ion Channel Engineering

Leader: Dr. Thomas GRUTTER
Research unit: Laboratory of Synthetic and Therapeutic Chemo-Biology | CBST UMR 7199

We work on ion channels (Piezo) and receptor channels (P2X) involved in many neurophysiological processes (pain, neurotransmission, sensory pathways). We study structure-function relationships and biophysical aspects and we design new molecular and chemical tools to better understand their mechanism of action. These tools also allow us to control the activity of these channels orthogonally in vivo. Dysfunction of these channels or channel receptors can trigger chronic pain or promote neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Peptidergic control of emotions

Leader: Dr. Alexandre CHARLET
Research unit: Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience (INCI) UPR 3212

Our research focuses on understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying the regulation of emotions, from social interaction to pain and anxiety. We are exploring how central neuropeptides modulate the neuroglia network in emotion-related structures such as the amygdala. To this end, we combine ex vivo and in vivo electrophysiology, calcium imaging and behavioural approaches with genetic tools.

Hedonic Dysfunction and Neuroadaptations

Leader: Dr. Katia BEFORT
Research unit: Laboratory of Cognitive and Adaptative Neuroscience (LNCA) UMR 7364
https://researchoutreach.org/articles/unravelling-links-substance-use-binge-like-eating-disorders/ 

Binge eating disorder is a common eating disorder affecting both men and women, characterized by episodes of excessive food consumption over short periods of time. Its origins remain unclear, but neurobiological mechanisms similar to those of drug addiction are thought to be involved. The endocannabinoid and opioid systems play a key role in reward and food intake. This disorder is often associated with obesity, depression, anxiety disorders and memory impairment. It may also promote chronic pain via neuroinflammatory mechanisms. We use animal models to study these biological and behavioral factors.

Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience & Psychiatry - Team psychiatry

Leader: Dr. Anne GIERSCH
Research unit: Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience & Psychiatry (STEP) | UMR 1329

Research into the pathophysiology of psychiatric illnesses involves understanding what enables us to be connected to our environment, to be able to tell our story, to pay attention to our environment, to perceive it and to react to it in an adapted way. The alteration of these mechanisms raises questions about memory and time, which are explored in the unit, as well as psychological suffering and addiction-related symptoms.

Integrative Multimodal Imaging in Healthcare

Leader: Dr. Laura HARSAN
Research unit: Integrative Multimodal Imaging in Healthcare team (IMIS) within The Engineering science, computer science and imaging laboratory (iCube) UMR 7357

Physiology of neural networks

Leader: Dr. Philippe ISOPE
Research unit: Institute of Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience (INCI) UPR 3212

The brain is modular, and some of its functions emerge from the interconnection and coordination between local and distant modules in these distributed networks. A given cortical area is made up of numerous functional modules working in parallel to process incoming information. One of the main challenges of current neuroscience remains to decipher the operational modes of these modules or “microcircuits”. Our team is focusing on several brain regions: the cerebellum, the olfactory bulb, the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord. We study :

• The microscopic organization and dynamics of individual modules in these regions.
• Mesoscale network interactions, i.e. how networks communicate with each other in awake animals.
• Network dysfunction in the context of psychiatric and neurological diseases (e.g. ALS, schizophrenia, movement disorders).

ComptOpt - Behaviour and Optogenetics

Director: Dr. Mélanie KREMER

In coordination with the Chronobiotron UMS 3415, the "Behaviour and Optogenetics" or "ComptOpt" animal experimentation platform specialises in the study of behaviour in rodents, particularly in models and tests of pain and psychiatric pathologies. We combine these models and tests with surgical approaches (stereotactic surgeries) associated or not with genetic approaches (transgenic mice, siRNA, viral trangenesis, optogenetics, chemogenetics, etc.) to understand the biological bases of the behaviours studied. ComptOpt designs, develops, adapts and implements new methodologies (models, tests and protocols) in the context of animal biology research on pain and psychiatric disorders. It also coordinates the transfer of know-how in animal experimentation on these research themes.

Centre for Neurocognitive and Neurophysiological Investigations (Ci2N) UMS 3489

Director: Pr. André DUFOUR

A large part of the research conducted on the platform concerns the study of the mechanisms of normal and pathological cognitive ageing. Investigations are carried out both clinically (neuropsychological assessments) and electrophysiologically (measurements of brain activity by electroencephalography).