AVERITT LAB
Neuroscience research laboratory focused on pre-clinical research on novel pain mechanisms underlying the greater prevalence of craniofacial pain disorders in women and discovery of novel, non-opioid pain therapeutics.
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Specifically, our current research program is (1) examining the role of gonadal hormones on craniofacial pain, (2) determining whether stress differentially exacerbates craniofacial pain in females vs. males, (3) investigating how gonadal hormone modulation of immune cells contributes to sex differences in craniofacial pain, and (4) discovery of phytochemicals to develop as novel non-opioid therapeutics.
NEUROSCIENCE TOOLS
Utilizing primary neuron and immune cell culture techniques, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunoassays, in situ hybridization, confocal microscopy, pharmacological manipulations, and in vivo behavior testing to test our hypotheses on pain and analgesia.
PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENTIST
Mentoring doctoral students, masters students, undergraduate students, and high school students in research in biology, molecular biology, pain, analgesia, and neuroscience research.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Conducting outreach projects in DFW area schools to introduce neuroscience concepts, increase recruitment of women and minorities to the STEM field, and increase awareness of research careers in medicine.