Tamara King

Education

  • Texas A&M University, 1997, PhD

Brief Biography

Research interests center around mechanistic analysis of pain, with a specific focus on cancer-induced bone pain, osteoarthritis induced joint pain and chronic pain induced by nerve injury (neuropathic pain). An important aspect of my research is using approaches that allow for mechanistic evaluation of affective/motivational aspects of pain and pain relief in the preclinical setting. Such an approach will lead to the discovery of molecules that can effectively ameliorate ongoing pain across various preclinical models of pain, including cancer induced bone pain, osteoarthritis induced joint pain, and nerve-injury induced pain. An overarching goal of my research is to examine mechanisms driving distinctive aspects of these pain states to foster development of novel therapies for a more comprehensive treatment of chronic pain in patients. Such advances would improve pain mamagement with diminished side effects compared to the currently available options (e.g. opioids in cancer bone pain).

Research Interests

Research interests center around mechanistic analysis of pain

Post-Doctoral Training

  • Post-Doctoral Training, Developmental Psychobiology
  • Columbia University and Hunter College, City University of New York (New York, New York)

Selected Publications

  • Sannajust, S., Imbert, I., Eaton, V., Henderson, T, Liaw, L, May, M, Barbe, MF, King, T. 2019. Females have greater susceptibility to develop ongoing pain and central sensitization in a rat model of temporomandibular joint pain. Pain. 160 2036–2049.
  • Havelin J, King T. 2018. Mechanisms underlying bone and joint pain. Current Osteoporosis Reports.; 16(6):763-771.
  • Remeniuk, B., King, T., Suktankhar, D., Nippert, A., Li, N., Li, F., Cheng, K., Rice, K.C., Porreca, F. 2018. Disease modifying actions of IL-6 blockade in a rat model of bone cancer pain. Pain. 59(4):684-698. Editor’s Choice
  • Havelin J, Imbert I, Sukhtankar D, Remeniuk B, Pelletier I, Gentry J, Okun A, Tiutan T, Porreca F, King TE. (2017). Mediation of Movement-Induced Breakthrough Cancer Pain by IB4-Binding Nociceptors in Rats. J Neurosci. 37(20):5111-5122
  • Allen JA, Imbert I, Havelin, J, Henderson, T, Stevenson, G, Liaw, L, King, T. (2017). Effects of treadmill exercise on advanced osteoarthritis pain in rats. Arthritis and Rheumatology. 69; (7):1407-1417.
  • Havelin, J., Imbert, I., Cormier, J., Allen, J., Porreca, F., & King, T. 2016. Central sensitization and neuropathic features of ongoing pain in a rat model of advanced osteoarthritis. The Journal of Pain, 17(3): 374-382.

 Dissertation Students

Tamara King