Dr Mohammed A. Nassar

Department of Biomedical Science
The University of Sheffield
Western Bank
Sheffield S10 2TN
United Kingdom

• Lecturer
• Room: D07 Florey Building
• Telephone: +44 (0) 114 222 2392

email : m.nassar@sheffield.ac.uk

Career history

• 2010-present: Lecturer, dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Sheffield University, UK.
• 1999-2009: Senior postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Nociception Group, Dept. of Biology, UCL, UK.
• 1998-99: Postdoctoral Fellow (Wellcome Prize Fellowship), Wellcome Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Dept. of Pharmacology, UCL, UK.
• 1994-98: Postgraduate student (Wellcome Prize studentship), Wellcome Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Dept. of Pharmacology, UCL, UK.
• 1994: Research assistant in the Wellcome Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Dept. of Pharmacology, UCL, UK.
• 1993: Research assistant in Dept. of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, UK.

Research interests

My research is focused on primary sensory neurons. The cell bodies of these neurons make sensory ganglia, including dorsal root ganglia (DRG), and are part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

These neurons convey sensory information from the both internal (e.g. viscera, muscles and bones) and external environment (skin) to central nervous system (CNS). Sensory neurons convey both innoxious and noxious stimuli. The latter is perceived in the CNA as pain. My research interest lies in investigating the molecular changes in sensory neurons that are associated with pathological pain. This is important in order. My lab uses variety of methods based on molecular biology, cellular biology, mouse transgenic and behavioural analysis to identify targets for novel and effective analgesic drugs.

Funding

• NC3R
• Royal Society

Publications

• Subramanian N, Wetzel A, Dombert B, Yadav P, Havlicek S, Jablonka S, Blum R, Sendtner M & Nassar MA (2012)
  Role of na1.9 in activity-dependent axon growth in motoneurons.
  Human Molecular Genetics, 21(16), 3655-3667.
• Raouf R, Rugiero F, Kiesewetter H, Hatch R, Nassar MA, Wood JN, Hummler E & Wang F (2012)
  Sodium channels and mammalian sensory mechanotransduction.
  Molecular Pain, 8.
• Minett MS, Passmore G, Wood JN, Nassar MA, Clark AK, Malcangio M, Dickenson AH & Wang F (2012)
  Distinct Nav1.7-dependent pain sensations require different sets of sensory and sympathetic neurons.
  Nature Communications, 3.
• Gaveriaux-Ruff C, Nozaki C, Nadal X, Hever XC, Weibel R, Matifas A, Reiss D, Filliol D, Nassar MA, Wood JN, Maldonado R & Kieffer BL (2011)
  Genetic ablation of delta opioid receptors in nociceptive sensory neurons increases chronic pain and abolishes opioid analgesia.
  PAIN, 152(6), 1238-1248.
• Golden JP, Hoshi M, Nassar MA, Enomoto H, Wood JN, Milbrandt J, Gereau RW, Jr JEM & Jain S (2010)
  RET Signaling Is Required for Survival and Normal Function of Nonpeptidergic Nociceptors.
  JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 30(11), 3983-3994.
• Eijkelkamp N, Heijnen CJ, Willemen HLDM, Deumens R, Joosten EAJ, Kleibeuker W, den Hartog IJM, van Velthoven CTJ, Nijboer C, Nassar MA, II DGW, Wood JN & Kavelaars A (2010)
  GRK2: A Novel Cell-Specific Regulator of Severity and Duration of Inflammatory Pain.
  JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 30(6), 2138-2149.
• Zhao J, Yuan G, Cendan CM, Nassar MA, Wood JN, Lagerström MC, Kullander K & Gavazzi I (2010)
  Nociceptor-expressed ephrin-B2 regulates inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
  Molecular Pain, 6.
• Zhao J, Lee MC, Momin A, Cendan CM, Shepherd ST, Baker MD, Asante C, Bee L, Bethry A, Perkins JR, Nassar MA, Abrahamsen B, Dickenson A, Cobb BS, Merkenschlager M & Wood JN (2010)
  Small RNAs control sodium channel expression, nociceptor excitability, and pain thresholds.
  J Neurosci, 30(32), 10860-10871.
• Chen PE, Errington ML, Kneussel M, Chen G, Annala AJ, Rudhard YH, Rast GF, Specht CG, Tigaret CM, Nassar MA, Morris RGM, Bliss TVP & Schoepfer R (2009)
  Behavioral deficits and subregion-specific suppression of LTP in mice expressing a population of mutant NMDA receptors throughout the hippocampus.
  LEARNING & MEMORY, 16(10), 635-644.
• Fricker FR, Zhu N, Abrahamsen B, Nassar MA, Thakur M, Garratt AN, Birchmeier C, McMahon SB, Wood JN & Bennett DLH (2009)
  SENSORY AXON-DERIVED NEUREGULIN-1 IS REQUIRED FOR AXOGLIAL SIGNALLING AND NORMAL SENSORY FUNCTION BUT NOT FOR LONG TERM AXON MAINTENANCE.
  JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, 14, 51-51.
• Fricker FR, Zhu N, Tsantoulas C, Abrahamsen B, Nassar MA, Thakur M, Garratt AN, Birchmeier C, McMahon SB, Wood JN & Bennett DLH (2009)
  Sensory Axon-Derived Neuregulin-1 Is Required for Axoglial Signaling and Normal Sensory Function But Not for Long-Term Axon Maintenance.
  JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 29(24), 7667-7678.
• Ostman JAR, Nassar MA, Wood JN & Baker MD (2008)
  GTP up-regulated persistent Na(+) current and enhanced nociceptor excitability require Na(V)1.9.
  JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 586(4), 1077-1087.
• Abrahamsen B, Zhao J, Asante CO, Cendan CM, Marsh S, Martinez-Barbera JP, Nassar MA, Dickenson AH & Wood JN (2008)
  The cell and molecular basis of mechanical, cold, and inflammatory pain.
  Science, 321(5889), 702-705.