April 16, 2021
Christine is a student in the multi-institution Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering led by the University of Maine, doing her doctoral work under the direction of Dr. Geoffrey Ganter, Professor of Biology, in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New England. Christine’s research project “Nociceptive sensitization in larval and adult Drosophila“, presented at the UMaine Student Symposium, is aimed at combating the national opioid overuse and overdose epidemic, which has impacted Maine more than most other states. In addition to many other societal problems caused by opioid use, 502 Mainers died of overdose in 2020, a record number fueled primarily by highly addictive opioids. It is predicted that due to disruption of the economy by COVID-19, drug overdose deaths will continue to increase. Many victims became addicted after being prescribed opioid medications for pain. Christine and Dr. Ganter’s group is focused on discovering novel drug targets that may represent safer alternatives for treating acute and chronic pain. Christine’s project used powerful, rapid fruit fly genetics to reveal a new biochemical pathway used by the nervous system to modulate pain sensitivity, potentially revealing targets for dozens of new pain medications. Because of the strong similarity between flies and humans at the genetic level, we are optimistic that potential new medications will prove effective at treating pain patients in a safer, more effective way, both here in Maine and around the world.