Monique R. Heitmeier

This study investigates the role of mu opioid receptors in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons of the rostral ventromedial medulla in neuropathic pain, finding that MOR signaling modulates early hypersensitivity but not chronic pain intensity.

The paper identifies Trpc4 interneurons in the spinal cord that gate bladder sensory input and regulate micturition reflexes, revealing their role in bladder-sphincter coordination and visceral pain.

The paper introduces Projection-TAGs, a tool for multiplex projection tracing and multi-modal profiling of projection neurons in mice.

The paper defines the transcriptional taxonomy of ventral pallidum cell types across mice, macaques, and baboons using snRNA-seq and in situ hybridization, finding transcriptional conservation and unique subclusters in primates.

The paper develops a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing strategy using a single AAV vector and Cre-dependent Cas9 in mice to enable cell-type specific editing and tool delivery in the nervous system.