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Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics Department
of Biopharmaceutical Sciences
Contact information: Email: click here USPS:
M/C 865, FedEx,
UPS: MBRB3320, 900 S Phone 312-996-0888, Lab 312-996-9778 Fax: 312-996-0098 |
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Research Interests Research in Dr. Wang's laboratory concentrates on understanding mechanisms of chronic pain and drug addiction and
developing new pharmacological treatments for these conditions. We apply the
power of neurobiology, molecular pharmacology, molecular genetics and
bioinformatics, and targeted delivery in our studies. Currently, four major research directions
are being taken: |
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A major objective of the laboratory is to understand
the mechanisms leading to chronic pain, opioid tolerance and addiction. These seemingly unrelated disease states
are hypothesized to share certain common underlying mechanisms. One study is examining the role of phosphorylation,
and another aims to establish a cellular model to study cancer-related
pain. More recently, we have started
to examine if various protein kinases work in concert (1,
2, 3). We are also
interested in developing new therapeutic targets as well as novel drugs that
can be used for the treatment of pain, drug addiction and other related CNS
problems. One ongoing project
evaluates TRPV1
(receptor for capsaicin, the pungent constituent in hot pepper) and its novel
ligands for treating chronic pain.
Another study is identifying and charactering novel CNS-active
ingredients from botanical herbs (1, 2,
3). Recently, we have identified that
phenothiazine antipsychotic drugs such as trifluoperazine may be
of use to fight drug addiction and improve analgesic action of opioids. An
area often being overlooked is to apply knowledge from basic research to
benefit patients suffering from inadequate pain control or drug addiction. A
key obstacle is the lack of a potential therapeutic agent’s
accessibility to intracellular targets and/or tissue/cell-specificity. A third focus in the lab is to develop
targeted delivery methods to administrate therapeutic agents for pain and
drug addiction. One study
is testing a novel construct to carry drugs across the blood brain barrier to
specific neurons, and if needed, to intracellular compartments. Finally,
we are interested in understanding the molecular genetics of
pain and pharmacogenetics of pain therapies (in particular opioids). We are applying the candidate gene approach
to evaluate the inter-individual variability in pain and pain control by
polymorphisms in neurotransmitter receptors (e.g., mu opiate receptor) and
their signaling proteins (e.g., protein kinase C). Among the patient
populations being studied are cancer and sickle cell patients. |
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Lab Members Postdoctoral
Fellows |
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Postdoctoral Fellow |
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Postdoctoral Fellow |
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Graduate Students |
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Ph.D. Candidate (Dean’s Scholar, former University
Fellow) *Winner of 2006/2007 Provost's Research Award/Deiss
Award in Biomedical Research* |
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Ph.D. Candidate (NIH Predoctoral Trainee) |
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Predoctoral Student |
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Predoctoral Student |
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Predoctoral Student |
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Predoctoral Student (University Fellow) |
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Predoctoral Student (University Fellow) |
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Undergraduate Research
Assistants |
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Click links below for more
information if you are interested in becoming a member of this
group, as a Undergraduate
Research Assistant |
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