The University of Pittsburgh Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine has awarded research seed grants to two T32 postdoctoral scholars pursuing innovative approaches to understanding and treating pain conditions. Sarah Margerison, PhD, and Jim Wherry, PhD, each received $10,000 to advance their respective projects focused on knee osteoarthritis pain assessment and alcohol withdrawal-induced pain mechanisms.
Dr. Margerison, working with mentor Ben Alter, PhD, will develop new methods for assessing clinically relevant knee osteoarthritis pain through her project "Designing Assessments of Clinically Relevant Knee Osteoarthritis Pain." Her research addresses a critical gap in current pain measurement approaches by creating a behavioral paradigm that isolates joint compression pain from other confounding factors. Using simultaneous electroencephalography and functional near-infrared spectroscopy during this paradigm, the study aims to identify neural correlates of weightbearing pain, symptoms that significantly impact patient mobility and quality of life. The findings could ultimately improve treatment outcomes for the 20% of knee replacement patients who continue experiencing pain after surgery.
Dr. Wherry's project, "Chemogenetic Activation of Microglia and its Effect on Alcohol Consumption and Chronic Alcohol Withdrawal-Induced Pain," explores the intersection of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and chronic pain under the mentorship of Gregg Homanics, PhD, and Sean Farris, PhD. His research employs Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) to precisely control microglial activity and investigate how these immune cells contribute to both alcohol consumption behaviors and withdrawal-induced pain. This novel methodology may identify new therapeutic targets for individuals with AUD who experience chronic pain, a population that often continues alcohol use specifically to manage pain symptoms.
We offer seed awards twice annually to support new basic, translational, and clinical research projects in our department. The next application deadline is April 15, 2026, for funding beginning in July/August 2026. Please visit our Seed Award page for more information.