Department of Medicine

University of Pittsburgh

Brian M. Davis, PhD
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Professor of Medicine
Office: PUH - Mezz. 2 - C Wing
200 Lothrop St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
 
Phone: 412-648-9115
Fax: 412-648-9378
E-mail: davisb@dom.pitt.edu
Education
BA - Biology, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champagne, IL, 1978
PhD - Neuroscience, State University of New York - Stony Brook, NY, 1983
Training
Postdoctoral Fellow - Neorophysiology, State University of New York - Stony Brook, NY, 1985
Postdoctoral Fellow - Neurodevelopment, Northwestern University - Evanston, IL, 1986
Postdoctoral Fellow - Spinal Cord Regeneration, University of Illinois - Chicago, IL, 1989
Area of Specialization/Research Interest  
Neuroscience
Pain Management
 
Profile
The research in the Davis laboratory focuses on the role of growth factors in development and adult plasticity of the central and peripheral nervous system. This work is being conducted in collaboration with Dr. Kathryn Albers (Department of Medicine) who has created lines of transgenic mice overexpressing specific growth factors and Dr. H. Richard Koerber (Department of Neurobiology) who is examining plasticity of second order spinal cord neurons. Currently, our research is focused on somatic and visceral pain and the growth factors in the NGF and GDNF families. Specifically, we have found that these growth factors (that are required for embryonic development of primary afferents) are upregulated in models of chronic pain. We also have good evidence that this upregulation directly contributes to the development of persistent pain states.
For Pub Med search results, click here.