Tamara King, Ph.D.
Location
Credentials
Education
Post-Doctoral Training
Columbia University and Hunter College, City University of New York (New York, New York)
Research
Current research
1. Mechanisms underlying knee and temporomandibular joint pain
2. Mechanisms underlying low back pain
Selected publications
NIH Bibliography -
Research interests
Research interests center around mechanistic analysis of chronic musculoskeletal pain, with a specific focus on osteoarthritis joint pain and low back pain. An important aspect of my research is using approaches that allow for evaluation of affective/motivational aspects of pain and pain relief in the preclinical setting. As females have a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, an important component of my research is exploring sex differences in circuits mediating chronic pain. My studies incorporate and develop behavioral analysis of pain in preclinical models in conjunction with cutting edge imaging techniques to determine how pathological changes within the musculoskeletal tissues and neural pain pathways mediate pain. Such an approach will lead to the discovery of circuits, neural populations and specific molecules that can be targeted in efforts to develop improved novel therapies for better treatment for patients with musculoskeletal pain. Such advances would improve pain management with diminished side effects compared to the currently available options resulting in increased quality of life for these patients.