The INSPIRE Lab at UAB seeks to understand chronic pain and pain sensitivity from many angles and directions. Using a mixture of basic science, molecular techniques, clinical research and interventions, we are focused on expanding our understanding of pain mechanisms to bring some relief to the millions affected by chronic pain. We are probing the underlying immune cell-related mechanisms that contribute to the development of chronic pain in various model that include inflammatory, neuropathic, cancer, and post-surgical pain. In our clinical research, we are investigating the interactions between sex assigned at birth, gender identity and hormones to pain sensitivity, the utility of diet interventions for chronic pain, as well as disparities in pain treatment. Our current work includes healthy individuals in addition to those with knee osteoarthritis, low back pain, phantom limb pain, and spinal cord injury. We are a translational lab that hopes to broaden our understanding of chronic pain to improve treatment outcomes. Welcome to our page – be INSPIRED!
