Finding the Genes that Predispose to Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia is a sudden, severe, stabbing, and recurring facial pain in one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve. Medications and surgical procedures are available for this condition, but these treatments can have risks and unwanted side effects. The resulting pain relief may be temporary. We need to understand what causes this pain better!
The Hodaie Lab is the sole Canadian site collaborating with Dr. Kim Burchiel at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) to determine whether trigeminal neuralgia has a genetic component. Dr. Burchiel is the Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at OHSU and specializes in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, pain surgery, and epilepsy surgery. His research focuses on the physiology of pain sensation, neuropathic pains, movement disorders and image-guided neurosurgery.
This is an intensive, multicenter genetic study supported by the Facial Pain Research Foundation. Together, we are striving to find the gene or genes that cause trigeminal neuralgia. Determining this genetic component could potentially improve the diagnosis and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia in the future.
The Hodaie Lab is the sole Canadian site collaborating with Dr. Kim Burchiel at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) to determine whether trigeminal neuralgia has a genetic component. Dr. Burchiel is the Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at OHSU and specializes in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, pain surgery, and epilepsy surgery. His research focuses on the physiology of pain sensation, neuropathic pains, movement disorders and image-guided neurosurgery.
This is an intensive, multicenter genetic study supported by the Facial Pain Research Foundation. Together, we are striving to find the gene or genes that cause trigeminal neuralgia. Determining this genetic component could potentially improve the diagnosis and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia in the future.