Research Description

The role of spinal dopamine in the transition to chronic pain

Awards

• US Association for the Study of Pain Full Travel Award, 2025
• Pain Research Training Program (T32 NS045549), 2024-present
• Predoctoral Training Grant in the Pharmacological Sciences (T32 GM067795), 2022-2024
• Neuroscience Training Program (T32 NS007421), 2021-2022

Publications

• Hayashi K, Lesnak JB, Plumb AN, Janowski AJ, Smith AF, Hill JK, Sluka KA. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor contributes to activity-induced muscle pain in male but not female mice. Brain Behav Immun. 2024 Aug:120:471-487. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.019. Epub 2024 Jun 24. PMID: 38925417; PMCID: PMC12239734
• Smith AF, Plumb AN, Berardi G, Sluka KA. Sex differences in the transition to chronic pain. J Clin Invest. 2025 Jun 2;135(11):e191931. doi: 10.1172/JCI191931. eCollection 2025 Jun 2. PMCID: PMC12126234
• Plumb AN, Hayashi K, Janowski A, Smith A, Rasmussen L, Sluka KA, Lesnak JB. Pregabalin produces analgesia in males but not females in an animal model of chronic widespread muscle pain Pain Rep. 2024 Nov 20:9(6):e1207. doi: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001207. eCollection 2024 Dec. PMID: 39574484; PMCID: PMC11581757
• Plumb AN, Lesnak JB, Berardi G, Hayashi K, Janowski AJ, Smith AF, Bailey D, Kerkman C, Kienenberger Z, Martin B, Patterson E, Van Roekel H, Vance CGT, Sluka KA. Standing on the shoulders of bias: lack of transparency and reporting of critical rigor characteristics in pain research. Pain. 2023 Aug 1;164(8):1775-1782. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002874. Epub 2023 Mar 6. PMCID: PMC10356741
• Hayashi K, Lesnak JB, Plumb AN, Janowski AJ, Smith AF, Hill JK, Sluka KA. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor contributes to activity-induced muscle pain in male but not female mice. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Nov 2:2023.10.31.565022. doi: 10.1101/2023.10.31.565022. Update in: Brain Behav Immun. 2024 Aug;120:471-487. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.019. PMCID: PMC10635076