IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON
Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics (SORA)
Department of Anaesthetics Pain Medicine and Intensive Care
At Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Job description
Job title: London Pain Consortium Postdoctoral Research Fellow (post 3)
Department/Division: Department of Anaesthetics Pain Medicine and Intensive Care/ Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and
Anaesthetics (SORA)
Grade: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Responsible to: Dr Andrew S.C. Rice, Reader in Pain Research, Department of Anaesthetics Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Imperial College
Location: Imperial College, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital campus
Dates: start date to be confirmed – duration 36 months
Summary of Post:
This post is funded by the Wellcome Trust as part of the Strategic Award made to the London Pain Consortium (see www.lpc.ac.uk).
The Fellow will execute the research project entitled “The neuroanatomical and neuropharmacological substrates of the interaction between neuropathic pain and fear/anxiety.
1. Summary of Project:
We have previously described the measurement of anxiety-like behaviours in rat models of
neuropathic pain and this project will extend these findings by elucidating the
neuroanatomical/pharmacological basis of this behaviour. We have targeted the pain co-morbidity
of anxiety because moderate/severe anxiety is prevalent in neuropathic pain patients and we have
shown that pain related anxiety correlates with an increased use of health care resources. This
project will exploit an existing portfolio of clinically relevant models of neuropathic pain, including
be driven by a close interaction with the parallel London Pain Consortium research theme which
will use functional brain imaging to investigate closely phenotyped neuropathic pain patients. Based
on the existing literature, the amygdala (CeA) and entorhinal cortex (EC) will be the initial targets.
The role of the CeA and EC will be initially confirmed in studies using stereotactic electrolytic
lesioning or local anaesthetic injection in “neuropathic” rats and our battery of anxiety paradigms.
We will then refine our studies using site-specific neuronal ablation, with saporin-conjugates or
siRNA to delete defined targets, for instance the role of amygdala NK1 and EC cholinergic
neurones. For selected anatomical targets, novel molecular targets will be identified by gene
microarray studies using dissected brain tissue from neuropathic rats.
Key references:
Hasnie, F. S., Breuer, J., Parker, S., Wallace, V., Blackbeard, J., Lever, I., Kinchington, P. R.,
Dickenson, A. H., Pheby, T., & Rice, A. S. C. 2007, "Further characterization of a rat model of
varicella zoster virus-associated pain: Relationship between mechanical hypersensitivity and
anxiety-related behaviour, and the influence of analgesic drugs",
Neuroscience
, vol. 144, no. 4, pp.
1495-1508.
Ploghaus, A., Narain, C., Beckmann, C. F., Clare, S., Bantick, S., Wise, R., Matthews, P. M.,
Rawlins, J. N., & Tracey, I. 2001, "Exacerbation of pain by anxiety is associated with activity in a
hippocampal network",
J Neurosci.
, vol. 21, no. 24, pp. 9896-9903.
Wallace, V. C. J., Blackbeard, J., Segerdahl, A., Hasnie, F. S., Pheby, T., McMahon, S. B., & Rice,
A. S. C. 2007a, "Characterisation of rodent models of HIV-gp120 and anti-retroviral associated
neuropathic pain",
Brain
, vol. 130, no. 10, pp. 2688-2702.
Wallace, V. C. J., Blackbeard, J., Pheby, T., Segerdahl, A. R., Davies, M., Hasnie, F., Hall, S.,
McMahon, S. B., & Rice, A. S. C. 2007b, "Pharmacological, behavioural and mechanistic analysis
of HIV-1 gp120 induced painful neuropathy",
Pain
, vol. 133, no. 1-3, pp. 47-63.
2.
Core duties:• To conduct the project “The neuroanatomical and neuropharmacological substrates of the interaction between neuropathic pain and fear/anxiety”
• To finalise the study protocol with Dr Rice and other investigators. • To provide Dr Rice with written weekly progress reports by email.
• To arrange regular meetings with Dr Rice to report on progress with, and discuss, the project. • To provide the London Pain Consortium with regular progress reports and presentations, when
requested.
• To prepare, submit and present the results of the project for poster or oral presentations at conferences, as directed by Dr Rice
• To prepare, submit and present the results of the project for peer review publication, as directed by Dr Rice
• To interact with, and keep informed, other members of senior members of the research team • To ensure that the project is conducted in accordance with all statutory, College and Departmental
requirements for safety, animal welfare and good laboratory practice.
• To ensure that all other regulatory, health and safety, and similar requirements are met.
• To attend weekly pain group journal club, lab meetings and London Pain Consortium activities, as required
• To adhere to the highest standards of research conduct • General administrative duties
• Liaison with other staff in the department, College and London Pain Consortium • To ensure that all other relevant College regulations and procedures are met • To work at other London Pain Consortium sites, as required by Dr Rice
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and so the post holder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
4
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Desirable
Qualifications PhD or equivalent Home Office modules 1-4 courses for personal licence holders
Experience Knowledge of pain and general neuroscience research methods
Working with laboratory animals
Scientific writing
Scientific presentations
Postdoctoral research experience
Experience with animal models of pain
Experience with stereotactic brain lesioning/injection
Experience with behavioural assessment of rodent behaviour
Immunohistochemistry
Brain dissection
Knowledge Working knowledge of ethical and other regulatory aspects of laboratory research.
Solid knowledge base of pain and general neuroscience
Computer literacy
Governance and standards of laboratory research, including that related to laboratory animals
Skills Handling and care of laboratory rodents
Rodent surgery and anaesthesia
Animal models of neuropathic pain
Stereotactic brain lesioning/injection in rodents
Scientific writing
Scientific presentations
Time Management Efficient Administration
General laboratory skills, etiquette and practice
behaviour
Immunohistochemistry
Brain dissection
Attitude Team Player Flexible Proactive
