Dr Emma Bird

BSc (Hons), PhD

School of Clinical Dentistry

Research Associate

Directorate Research - Co-ordinator

e.v.bird@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9373

19 Claremont Crescent

Full contact details

Dr Emma Bird
School of Clinical Dentistry
19 Claremont Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2TA

Profile

I joined the Oral Neuroscience Research group as a Research Technician in 1996 and registered as a staff candidate for a part-time PhD, entitled “Immunocytchemical studies on neuromas of branches of the trigeminal nerve”, which I completed in 2004 and was promoted to Research Associate. I have 20 years research experience working in the field of pain research with colleagues in neuroscience groups around the world and in collaboration with industry.

My main research focus is in the mechanisms underlying nerve injury-induced and inflammatory pain, specifically in the orofacial region, arising as a consequence of trigeminal nerve injury. Recently I have developed a keen interest in the psychology of pain, in particular psychosocial factors and their role in chronic pain.

Research interests

Trigeminal nerve injuries including lingual and inferior alveolar nerves
Mechanisms of nerve injury-induced and inflammatory chronic pain
Psychology of pain including psychosocial factors depression, anxiety, coping, and catastrophisation
Sex and gender differences in pain

Current Projects:

Study of human lingual nerve and tooth pulp tissues to investigate the underlying mechanisms of chronic oro-facial pain
A novel role for the chemokine lymphotactin and its receptor in trigeminal sensitisation
Development of MRI in a preclinical model of chronic neuropathic pain

Publications

Journal articles

Bird EV, Iannitti T, Christmas C, Andreev V, King A & Boissonade FM (2018) A novel role for lymphotactin (XCL1) signaling in the nervous system: XCL1 acts via its receptor XCR1 to increase trigeminal neuronal excitability. Neuroscience, 379, 334-349. View this article in WRRO
Bird EV, Christmas CR, Loescher AR, Smith KG, Robinson PP, Black JA, Waxman SG & Boissonade FM (2013) Correlation of Nav1.8 and Nav1.9 sodium channel expression with neuropathic pain in human subjects with lingual nerve neuromas.. Mol Pain, 9, 52. View this article in WRRO
Morgan CR, Bird EV, Robinson PP & Boissonade FM (2009) TRPA1 expression in human lingual nerve neuromas in patients with and without symptoms of dysaesthesia.. Neurosci Lett, 465(2), 189-193.
Morgan CR, Bird EV, Robinson PP & Boissonade FM (2009) Immunohistochemical analysis of the purinoceptor P2X7 in human lingual nerve neuromas.. J Orofac Pain, 23(1), 65-72.
Bird EV, Robinson PP & Boissonade FM (2007) Na(v)1.7 sodium channel expression in human lingual nerve neuromas.. Arch Oral Biol, 52(5), 494-502.
Robinson PP, Boissonade FM, Loescher AR, Smith KG, Yates JM, Elcock C, Bird EV, Davies SL, Smith PL & Vora AR (2004) Peripheral mechanisms for the initiation of pain following trigeminal nerve injury.. J Orofac Pain, 18(4), 287-292.

Research group

Hisham Shembesh - The effects of inflammatory cytokines on functional nerve recovery and development of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve repair. Supervisors: Dr Simon Atkins, Dr Emma Bird, Prof Fiona Boissonade.
Diana Tavares Ferreira - Resolvin receptors expression in the nervous system. Supervisors: Prof Fiona Boissonade, Dr Dan Lambert, Dr Emma Bird.

Professional activities and memberships

University of Sheffield Thesis Mentor. Recognised as a dedicated outstanding thesis mentor https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ris/ecr/mentoring/dotm
Journal reviewer for Archives of Oral Biology, Brain Research, Journal of Dental Research, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.