Chronic pain is a devastating medical condition, and its treatment has contributed to significant public health issues. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms affecting pain detection could lead to more effective treatments. Utilizing Drosophila, we explore the molecular components that function in peripheral neurons to mediate nociceptive reflexes to noxious environmental stimuli. Our approach uses RNAi knock-down experimentation to identify genes, mutant phenotypic characterization, and molecular techniques to quantify the gene expression of identified genes.

• Filak, M.*, Johnson, R.*, Campo, J.J.* and Halsell, S.R. (2014) Creation of a Heat-inducible Drosophila RhoA+ Transgene and Chromosomal Mapping of the Genomic Insertions of the Transgene. BIOS. 85:19-29.
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*indicates student co-author