Overview
My lab studies neural circuit basis of sensory perception.
Specifically we are interested in determining neural circuits underlying (1) active touch sensation including tactile processing stream and motor control of touch sensors on the face; (2) pain sensation including both sensory-discriminative and affective aspects of pain; and (3) general anesthesia including the active pain-suppression process. We use a combination of genetic, viral, electrophysiology, and in vivo imaging (in free-moving animals) techniques to study these questions.
Specifically we are interested in determining neural circuits underlying (1) active touch sensation including tactile processing stream and motor control of touch sensors on the face; (2) pain sensation including both sensory-discriminative and affective aspects of pain; and (3) general anesthesia including the active pain-suppression process. We use a combination of genetic, viral, electrophysiology, and in vivo imaging (in free-moving animals) techniques to study these questions.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Adjunct Professor in the Department of Neurobiology
·
2021 - Present
Neurobiology,
Basic Science Departments
Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences
·
2008 - Present
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences,
University Institutes and Centers
Affiliate of the Duke Regeneration Center
·
2021 - Present
Duke Regeneration Center,
Basic Science Departments
Recent Publications
Adhesive nonfibrotic bioelectronic interfaces on diverse peripheral nerves for long-term functional neuromodulation.
Journal Article Sci Adv · November 7, 2025 Bioelectronic devices implanted on peripheral nerves offer potential for the treatment and rehabilitation of clinical diseases. However, the foreign body reaction and the subsequent fibrous capsule formation at the device-peripheral nerve interface severel ... Full text Link to item CiteGeneral Anesthesia-activated Neurons in the Central Amygdala Mediate Antinociception: Distinct Roles in Acute versus Chronic Phases of Nerve Injury.
Journal Article Anesthesiology · August 1, 2025 BACKGROUND: General anesthesia, such as isoflurane, induces analgesia (loss of pain) and loss of consciousness through mechanisms that are not fully understood. A distinct population of γ-aminobutyric acid-mediated neurons has been recently identified in t ... Full text Link to item CitePDAI: A green pesticide molecule design technology platform driven by high-performance computing and artificial intelligence
Journal Article Advanced Agrochem · June 1, 2025 Pesticides are integral to agricultural productivity and food security. Despite the notable advancements in Computer Aided Drug Design (CADD) and Artificial Intelligence Drug Discovery (AIDD) in pharmaceuticals, their application in the pesticide sector re ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Medical Scientist Training Program
Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 1997 - 2022Markerless Tracking of 3D Posture to Reveal the Sensory Origins of Body Schema
FellowshipPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2020Reverse engineering the brain stem circuits that govern exploratory behavior
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of California - San Diego · 2020 - 2020View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Columbia University ·
1998
Ph.D.