Clifford J. Woolf

Targeting Gi/o-coupled GPCRs to inhibit nociceptors: insights from the serotonin receptor Htr1b and triptans

The paper identifies Gi/o-coupled GPCRs in nociceptors and shows that Htr1b agonists like triptans reduce neuronal excitability and pain in models, suggesting new analgesic targets.

Postnatal gene restoration in succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD) reveals phenotype reversibility

This study shows that restoring the ALDH5A1 gene in a mouse model of SSADHD reverses hyperactivity and reduces GHB levels, improving survival.

Colitis-induced visceral pain recruits central neurotensin neurons that modulate colonic sensitivity

This study identifies neurotensin-expressing neurons in the parabrachial nucleus that modulate colonic sensitivity and pain in colitis, suggesting neurotensin as a therapeutic target.

Peripheral Nerve Transection Predominantly Drives Sympathetic Nerve Sprouting in Mouse Dorsal Root Ganglia

This study compares nerve transection and crush injury models to show that transection drives sympathetic sprouting and pain, while crush injury causes pain through non-sympathetic mechanisms.

A Reference Atlas of the Human Dorsal Root Ganglion

This paper constructs a human dorsal root ganglion reference atlas, identifying 22 neuronal subtypes and 10 non-neuronal cell types, and reveals functional differences between human and mouse DRG neurons.

A human iPSC-derived motor neuron-myogenic cell coculture platform to evaluate neuromuscular junction innervation after axon injury and in Spinal Muscular Atrophy

This paper develops a human iPSC-derived motor neuron-myogenic coculture platform to study NMJ innervation after axon injury and in SMA, showing blebbistatin enhances NMJ reinnervation and confirming reduced NMJ function in SMA patient-derived neurons.

A genetically defined injured C-fibre nociceptor associated with neuromasdrives chronic spontaneous neuropathic pain

The paper identifies a specific subtype of injured C-fibre nociceptors in neuromas that drive chronic spontaneous neuropathic pain in mice.

Machine learning behavioral analysis reveals cervical instability as an early biomarker of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

This paper uses machine learning to detect early cervical instability in ALS mice, identifying it as a behavioral biomarker for early disease detection.

Satellite glial contact enhances differentiation and maturation of human iPSC-derived sensory neurons

This study shows that co-culturing human iPSC-derived sensory neurons with rodent satellite glia enhances their differentiation and maturation, leading to more mature phenotypes and improved disease modeling.

ARBEL: A Machine Learning Tool with Light-Based Image Analysis for Automatic Classification of 3D Pain Behaviors

ARBEL automatically classifies 3D pain behaviors in mice using light-based analysis and pose estimation, achieving high precision and enabling efficient drug screening.

Selective modification of ascending spinal outputs in acute and neuropathic pain states

The paper examines how spinal nociceptive output changes in acute and neuropathic pain states using calcium imaging.

Lipid nanoparticle delivery of siRNA to dorsal root ganglion neurons to treat pain

This study demonstrates the use of lipid nanoparticles to deliver siRNA to dorsal root ganglion neurons, effectively silencing TRPV1 and reducing pain-related behaviors.

Harmonized cross-species cell atlases of trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia

The paper builds harmonized cross-species cell atlases of DRG and TG, identifies 29 cell types across 6 species, and shows transcriptomic similarities and differences in sensory neurons.

NEK1 modulates neurite outgrowth in motor neurons through coordinating retromer formation

This study identifies NEK1's role in motor neuron neurite outgrowth by coordinating retromer formation through interactions with SMC3.

Nerve injury disrupts temporal processing in the spinal cord dorsal horn through alterations in PV+ interneurons

This study shows nerve injury disrupts temporal firing patterns in spinal cord dorsal horn neurons, driven by PV+ interneurons, contributing to mechanical allodynia.

Macrophages protect against sensory axon degeneration in diabetic neuropathy

This study shows that macrophages protect against sensory axon degeneration in diabetic neuropathy by delaying axonal loss through CCR2 signaling.

Integrin-driven Axon Regeneration in the Spinal Cord Activates a Distinctive CNS Regeneration Program

This study identifies a distinct CNS regeneration program activated by integrin expression in spinal cord sensory neurons, differing from PNS regeneration and involving ubiquitination, autophagy, and signaling pathways.

The Secondary Somatosensory Cortex Gates Mechanical and Thermal Sensitivity

This study investigates how the secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) modulates mechanical and thermal sensitivity through distinct neural circuits compared to the primary somatosensory cortex (S1).

Crucial neuroprotective roles of the metabolite BH4 in dopaminergic neurons

This study demonstrates that BH4 deficiency exacerbates PD-related stressors and that BH4 augmentation protects dopaminergic neurons in multiple models.

Downregulation of the silent potassium channel Kv8.1 increases ALS motor neuron vulnerability

The paper shows that reduced Kv8.1 expression in ALS motor neurons with SOD1(A4V) and C9orf72 mutations increases vulnerability to cell death by affecting metabolism and transport pathways.

Nociceptor neuroimmune interactomes reveal cell type- and injury-specific inflammatory pain pathways

The paper constructs a database of receptor-ligand pairs and uses single-cell transcriptomics to identify injury-specific neuroimmune interactomes in inflammatory pain.

Development of a PET radioligand for α2δ-1 subunit of calcium channels for imaging neuropathic pain

This paper develops two 18F-labeled gabapentin derivatives for imaging the α2δ-1 subunit of calcium channels in neuropathic pain, showing increased uptake in injured nerves.

Transcription factor network analysis identifies REST/NRSF as an intrinsic regulator of CNS regeneration

The paper identifies REST/NRSF as a suppressor of CNS axon regeneration using systems biology approaches and validates its role through genetic manipulations.

Core Transcription Programs Controlling Injury-Induced Neurodegeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells

The paper identifies four ATF/CEBP transcription factors that drive injury-induced neurodegeneration of retinal ganglion cells and shows their role in glaucoma.

Scalable Generation of Pseudo-Unipolar Sensory Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

This paper describes a method to efficiently generate human sensory neurons from pluripotent stem cells for drug development.

Cannabidiol activates neuronal Kv7 channels

This study identifies CBD's activation of Kv7 channels as a mechanism for its antiepileptic effects.

A Multiparametric Activity Profiling Platform for Neuron Disease Phenotyping and Drug Screening

The paper introduces a cloud-based platform for analyzing calcium activity in motor neurons to identify compounds that reverse disease phenotypes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Demyelination induces transcriptional reprogramming in proprioceptive and Aβ rapidly adapting low-threshold-mechanoreceptor neurons.

The paper shows that Schwann cell loss causes demyelination and transcriptional reprogramming in specific sensory neurons, suggesting a non-cell autonomous response to axon-Schwann cell interaction loss.

Screening for axon regeneration promoting compounds with human iPSC-derived motor neurons

This study identifies compounds that promote axon regeneration using human iPSC-derived motor neurons and validates blebbistatin as a top hit in vivo.

DeepEthogram: a machine learning pipeline for supervised behavior classification from raw pixels

DeepEthogram uses machine learning to automatically classify animal behaviors from video frames with high accuracy, reducing manual effort and increasing reproducibility.