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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 |
Editor Associate Editor |
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Research Interests Research in Dr. Wang's laboratory concentrates on 1)
understanding mechanisms of chronic
pain and drug addiction, and 2) 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 pursued: |
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A major objective of the laboratory is to understand
the mechanisms leading to chronic pain, opioid tolerance and addiction,
and opioid-induced
hyperalgesia. 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 in these medical
conditions (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.
Other studies are 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 for fighting drug addiction, improving analgesic action of opioids,
and directly attenuating chronic inflammatory
and neuropathic
pain. An
area often being overlooked is applying 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 nanomedicine
for targeted drug delivery for pain and drug addiction. One study
is testing novel nanoparticles 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 |
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Chun Xiao, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow |
Zhijun Chen, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow |
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Yan Chen, M.S. Predoctoral Student (University Fellow) |
Ying He, M.S. Predoctoral Student (University Fellow) |
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Chelsea
Kirkmire Predoctoral Student (NIH Predoctoral Trainee) |
Kim Bean Graduate Student (NIH Predoctoral Trainee) Primary Lab: Dr. Farnsworth, PCRPS Program: Pharmacognosy |
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Cheng Yang, M.S. Graduate Student |
Ellie
Jhun PharmD/PhD. Student |
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Phillip
Chae, M.D. Postgraduate Researcher |
Jennifer Suk Undergraduate Research Assistant |
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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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