Biography
Nadine El-Ayache, D.O., Ph.D. completed her training as a physician-scientist at Michigan State University. Her research focused on understanding the role of serotonin (5-HT) signaling at the 5-HT 3 receptors in an animal model of visceral hypersensitivity. She found that female serotonin transporter knockout (SERT-KO) rats exhibited increased pain in response to colorectal distension. Her work showed that in female SERT KO rats 5-HT3 receptor signaling at the dorsal spinal cord mediates visceral hypersensitivity. Such differences could facilitate the development of sex-specific drug treatments for visceral pain. She will be working with our team on various projects. Her interests include sex differences in pain transmission and non-opioid analgesics.