Paul A. Heppenstall

This study identifies RPL24 as a regulator of miR processing and tRF production, showing its interaction with DDX5 and its effect on miR levels and tRF profiles in human and plant cells.

This study investigates the role of mechanoreceptors and nociceptors in spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain, finding that early mechanoreceptor ablation reduces pain behavior, while nociceptor hyperexcitability and sprouting are key drivers of pain.

This study shows that microglia phagocytose A-fibre terminals in the spinal cord dorsal horn during postnatal development, and their absence leads to hypersensitivity to dynamic touch.

This study uses AAV-PHP.S to deliver chemogenetic receptors to knee-innervating DRG neurons, showing that inhibitory DREADDs reduce inflammation-induced pain in mice.

The paper identifies a novel population of sensory neurons that regulate blood pressure through the autonomic nervous system.

This paper describes a method to selectively photoablate nociceptors in mice using a modified NGF ligand and NIR light, reducing pain behaviors in multiple pain models.

The paper introduces a chemogenetic tool for optical voltage monitoring in neurons using a fluorescent probe that detects both supra- and subthreshold activity.

This study investigates how congenital pain insensitivity in heterozygous humans and mice affects affective pain responses, finding dissociated effects on learned fear and neural processing.

This study identifies TrkB-expressing sensory neurons as key to mechanical allodynia and demonstrates their ablation as a treatment for neuropathic pain.

This paper develops a molecule-guided laser ablation strategy to control itch by targeting itch-sensing neurons in mouse models of skin diseases.