Neuroverse 10. A Podcast by Neuroverse: Tools for Looking into the Brain - Untangling the Neural Mechanisms of Chronic Pain (with Professor Sascha Alles)
About the episode
What exactly is pain—and why is it so complex to define, study, or treat? In the tenth episode of Tools for Looking into the Brain, created in collaboration with Neuroverse, Professor Sascha Alles, Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, joins hosts Clara and Carolina to delve into the intricate world of chronic pain.
Professor Alles discusses the underlying science of how pain signals are generated and processed, the electrophysiological changes that sustain chronic pain, and why pain research presents such unique challenges. The conversation also highlights how advanced technologies and experimental models are transforming our understanding of the nervous system.
As part of his research, Professor Alles and his lab use Scientifica’s SliceScope Pro Systems to uncover the mechanisms of chronic pain through precise electrophysiological recordings. These fully integrated, globally trusted patch clamp rigs enable researchers to investigate neural activity with exceptional accuracy and stability.
From left to right, Professor Sascha Alles, Nesia Zurek, Staff Scientist, Alles Lab, Sachin Goyal, Associate Staff Scientist, Alles Lab
"I first used Scientifica equipment during my postdoc training and was amazed with the ease of use for patch clamp electrophysiology applications compared to other systems I had used in the past. It was an easy decision when I started my lab to continue using their equipment. We have purchased 3 rigs to date, and their installation and support teams have been helpful every step of the way. I recommend Scientifica to any lab interested in using electrophysiology in their research."
Professor Sascha Alles Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Scientifica SliceScope Pro 2000
The SliceScope Pro 2000 is an integrated electrophysiology system for patch clamp recording incorporating a large mounting stage. The versatility of the system means that you can perform slice electrophysiology, fluorescent imaging, and optogenetics.
About Professor Sascha Alles
Professor Sascha Alles is a neuroscientist whose personal experience with chronic pain inspired his career-long focus on understanding and treating it. His research explores the molecular mechanisms of nociception and chronic pain, aiming to advance the development of non-opioid therapies.
At Cincinnati Children’s, Professor Alles leads a multidisciplinary team using electrophysiology, imaging, bioinformatics, and molecular biology to study sensory neurons in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. His lab collaborates with leading institutions, including New York University, Yale University, the University of Florida, and the University of Kansas Medical Center. His lab’s most recent work has been published in reputable pain and neuroscience journals including Journal of Pain, eNeuro, Neurobiology of Pain, and Molecular Pain.
With over 15 years of experience, Professor Alles has made significant contributions to understanding how ion channels and receptors regulate neuronal excitability in chronic pain conditions. He also serves as a reviewer for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) grant review panels and sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Pain.
Sascha R.A. Alles, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Anesthesia, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
About Carolina and Clara
Carolina and Clara are both neuroscientists and curious about the world and our perception of it. Their love for exploring ideas and bridging connections across various disciplines drew them to the interdisciplinary field of neuroscience. Together, they established Neuroverse as a platform for exploring and sharing ideas within and beyond neuroscience. Their goal is to create content that is accessible and engaging for both scientists and non-scientists alike.
Neuroverse Hosts, Carolina Soares and Clara Lenherr
The podcast series
In collaboration with Neuroverse, this podcast series, "Tools for Looking into the Brain," is dedicated to creating engaging and informative content exploring various techniques used by researchers in neuroscience (with a focus on electrophysiology), as well as general advice on navigating the world of research. Throughout this series, we'll have special guest appearances, offering valuable insights and perspectives from experts in the field.
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