Ivanusic Lab ~ Neural Mechanisms of Bone Pain and Mechano-sensitivity
Principal investigator: Dr Jason Ivanusic
Phone: 8344 7254
Room: E724
Email: j.ivanusic@unimelb.edu.au
The broad objective of the work done in this laboratory is to determine the fundamental neural mechanisms that account for the perception of bone pain and mechano-sensitivity.
Little is actually known of the response properties, structure and organization of receptors and neurones that respond to bone stimulation, or the pathways through which sensory information is relayed from bone to the brain. It is generally assumed that sensory nerves of bony origin follow the same path into and within the CNS as do those of other tissues (eg. skin and muscle), and as a result, clinical treatment of bone pain often relies on drug therapy or surgery that was developed to combat cutaneous and muscular pain. It is possible that the neural mechanisms that mediate bone pain are different to those that mediate pain of cutaneous and muscular origin, and this could contribute to the difficulty for clinicians in successfully managing some types of bone pain.
We use neuro-anatomical tracing techniques, immuno-histochemistry and electrophysiology to study the sensory nerve supply of bone and associated tissues, along with the central pathways that relay information from bone towards the brain. This is significant because it will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of bone pain and aspects of mechano-sensation, both of which are thought to be the major modalities encoded by activity in these sensory fibres.
A number of projects are being conducted by the laboratory. The projects may be pursued as part of a PhD, Masters, BMedSc or Honours degree, and any interested parties should contact Dr Jason Ivanusic for further details.
Dr Ivanusic is collaborating with Ernie Jennings in the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at the University of Melbourne (Trigeminal Pain laboratory) and Dr Michael Barrington in the Department of Anesthesia at St Vincent’s Hospital (Ultrasound guided peripheral nerve block studies). Projects may also be offered under the co-supervision of Dr Ivanusic in these laboratories.