Daniela Salvemini, Ph.D. » Investigators

Cardiovascular Research Interests:

Primary area of research:

• Inflammation
• Nitroxidative Stress
• Cytokines
• Lipids
• Drug Discovery and Development

Summary of cardiovascular research:

My research focuses on pain with a particular emphasis on nitroxidative stress and sphingolipids and their roles in the modulation of nociception at peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal sites. Chronic severe pain is a significant global health problem. In the U.S. alone, one-third of Americans suffer some form of chronic pain, and in these individuals over 30% of reported pain is resistant to analgesic therapy. The economic impact of pain is equally large at approximately $100 billion annually. These figures will continue to be on the rise due to an aging population suffering from diabetes, stroke, and cancer.

Over the years, my lab has discovered two major pathways in the development of pain of several etiologies: the superoxide-to-peroxynitrite pathway and the ceramide-to-sphingosine-1-phosphate pathway. Both are poised for multilevel manipulations with novel therapeutics. Through a multidisciplinary approach, including genetic, molecular, bioanalytical, biochemical, and pharmacological tools, my lab is actively engaged in understanding the signaling pathways through which these species contribute to the development of pain. Strong emphasis is placed on chronic neuropathic pain to include chemotherapy-induced pain.

Through our key collaborative efforts with chemistry groups at various institutions, we are also involved in synthesizing novel chemical entities that can be exploited pharmacologically to unravel the therapeutic importance of these pathways, thus addressing major unmet medical needs with huge socioeconomic consequences.