Imlach Laboratory
Pain Mechanisms
Welcome to the Imlach Lab
Our lab investigates changes in neuronal activity within pain circuits during the development of chronic pain. We focus on pathological changes in spinal pain circuits that can be modified to treat pain.
We're part of the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, and a member of the Neuroscience Program,
and the Department of Physiology.
Associate Professor Wendy Imlach
Deputy Head (Industry and translation), Neuroscience Program
My global research connections, partners and funding can be viewed on my Monash Research Profile.
If you are a student interested in doing research in our lab, visit Supervisor Connect.
Click the links below to connect with me on ORCID, Google Scholar and LinkedIn.
Our research
Chronic pain is a major global health burden, affecting nearly 20% of the Australian population. This condition results in hypersensitivity to sensory input so non-painful stimuli can become painful. Analgesics that are currently in use provide relief in a small proportion of chronic pain patients and there is a great need for more effective therapeutics.
Our lab investigates changes in neuron signalling that happen in pain circuits during the development of chronic pain. Some of these changes can be targeted therapeutically, so the aim of our work is to identify pathological changes and find ways to modify them for the treatment of pain. To understand pain circuitry and to characterize potential analgesics, we use patch-clamp electrophysiology, optogenetics and calcium imagining in brain and spinal cord tissue from animal models. We also use immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging, behavioural assays and genetic profiling.
Lab members
We are committed to excellence in research.
Join Our Lab
We're always interested in collaborating with bright and motivated researchers, clinicians and industry. Whether you want to research, study or partner with us to accelerate our discoveries, find out about the work we do.