ABOUT

Dr. Greg Dussor’s research focus is on uncovering pathological mechanisms and therapeutic targets for migraine headache. Since the most likely mechanism contributing to migraine pain is activation of peripheral nociceptive signaling from the meninges, experiments in the Dussor laboratory have focused on identifying cellular mechanisms of dural afferent activation/sensitization as well as understanding plasticity at the central terminals of these neurons. The laboratory has identified targets within the meningeal nociceptive system including acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), several TRP channels, and IL-6 signaling mechanisms. His team has also developed and optimized several preclinical behavioral models for studying migraine. More recently, they have begun to investigate mechanisms that may contribute to the higher prevalence of migraine in women. These studies include a focus on the hormone prolactin as well as mechanisms that may mediate differential signaling through neuropeptide systems such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).

Dr. Dussor was a recipient of a Future Leaders in Pain Research award from the American Pain Society and is a 2020 Mayday Fellow. He serves on the editorial boards of Pain, Pain Reports, Molecular Pain, Headache, the Journal of Headache and Pain, the Journal of Neuroscience, and he is a member of the advisory boards of the Migraine Research Foundation and the Association of Migraine Disorder’s new Migraine Science Collaborative.