Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
@michelecuratolo.bsky.social
Physician, scientist, teacher, and leader in pain medicine. Professor at the University of Washington. Italian and Swiss. http://michelecuratolomd.com.
Pinned
The biggest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge - Stephen Hawking
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
Big new paper from us published yesterday: The synaptic ectokinase VLK triggers the EphB2–NMDAR interaction to drive injury-induced pain
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @hajisciencebaji.bsky.social in my lab and a wonderful collaboration with Matthew Dalva's lab at Tulane
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @hajisciencebaji.bsky.social in my lab and a wonderful collaboration with Matthew Dalva's lab at Tulane
The synaptic ectokinase VLK triggers the EphB2–NMDAR interaction to drive injury-induced pain
Phosphorylation of hundreds of protein extracellular domains is mediated by two kinase families but the functional role of these kinases is underexplored. We find that the presynaptic release of the t...
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Big new paper from us published yesterday: The synaptic ectokinase VLK triggers the EphB2–NMDAR interaction to drive injury-induced pain
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @hajisciencebaji.bsky.social in my lab and a wonderful collaboration with Matthew Dalva's lab at Tulane
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by @hajisciencebaji.bsky.social in my lab and a wonderful collaboration with Matthew Dalva's lab at Tulane
Chronic pain after surgery: why it happens so frequently.
#ChronicPain #Surgery
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/why-can...
#ChronicPain #Surgery
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/why-can...
Why can surgery cause chronic pain?
Surgery can lead to chronic pain, likely due to persistent nerve damage, inflammation, and alteration in the processing of pain signals in the spinal cord and brain.
www.michelecuratolomd.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Chronic pain after surgery: why it happens so frequently.
#ChronicPain #Surgery
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/why-can...
#ChronicPain #Surgery
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/why-can...
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
We are seeking a senior tenured professor in our Department working on affective and/or motivational neuroscience (defined in the ad, but pretty broad). The idea is that this person is going help lead our growth in this area alongside our excellent Centers. jobs.utdallas.edu/postings/30693
Associate/Full Professor - Affective Motivational Neuroscience
Position DescriptionThe Department of Neuroscience in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas seeks a late-stage Associate or Full Professor faculty member to ...
jobs.utdallas.edu
October 31, 2025 at 9:15 PM
We are seeking a senior tenured professor in our Department working on affective and/or motivational neuroscience (defined in the ad, but pretty broad). The idea is that this person is going help lead our growth in this area alongside our excellent Centers. jobs.utdallas.edu/postings/30693
Impressive work by Sylvanus Toikumo revealing cell-type-specific genetic architecture of human chronic pain across central and peripheral nervous system. The C2 DRG from our patients with neck pain undergoing surgery at @uwmedicine.bsky.social displayed enrichment of pain-specific genes.
Huge congrats to Sylvanus Toikumo for this outstanding work just published online preview in JCI: www.jci.org/articles/vie... We were happy to be able to play a small role in this paper, and I have been happy to be an informal co-mentor to Sylvanus... he is on the job market!
JCI -
The cell-type-specific genetic architecture of chronic pain in brain and dorsal root ganglia
www.jci.org
October 9, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Impressive work by Sylvanus Toikumo revealing cell-type-specific genetic architecture of human chronic pain across central and peripheral nervous system. The C2 DRG from our patients with neck pain undergoing surgery at @uwmedicine.bsky.social displayed enrichment of pain-specific genes.
The first publication of our project, which identifies altered gene expressions in the human DRG associated with neck pain. Fantastic collaboration with @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social lab, Christoph Hofstetter from Neurosurgery, and a stellar team.
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
Transcriptome of the human C2 dorsal root ganglia in C1-2 arthrodesis surgery: insight for neck pain
Arendt-Tranholm et al. use surgically resected sensory ganglia to investigate the mechanisms underlying chronic neck pain. They produce a molecular map of
urldefense.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM
The first publication of our project, which identifies altered gene expressions in the human DRG associated with neck pain. Fantastic collaboration with @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social lab, Christoph Hofstetter from Neurosurgery, and a stellar team.
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
A very exciting conference that brings together top scientists, clinicians, and biotech/industry experts to present emerging therapeutic targets for #ChronicPain. Learn more here: ter.li/unar77.
October 1, 2025 at 6:16 PM
A very exciting conference that brings together top scientists, clinicians, and biotech/industry experts to present emerging therapeutic targets for #ChronicPain. Learn more here: ter.li/unar77.
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
This is incredible and so inspiring on so many levels. This is what science can do.
September 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
This is incredible and so inspiring on so many levels. This is what science can do.
On #Biomarkers for #ChronicPain: Recent research shows that it not only about biological measures
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/the-int...
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/the-int...
Body and Mind Measures Interact to Improve Pain Biomarkers
New research highlights the benefits of combining biological and psychosocial measures when identifying biomarkers for pain. This supports the biopsychosocial model and urges a holistic approach to pa...
www.michelecuratolomd.com
September 2, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On #Biomarkers for #ChronicPain: Recent research shows that it not only about biological measures
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/the-int...
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/the-int...
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
This preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... is now accepted for publication in JCI! Heavily revised manuscript with tons of exciting new data should be online soon. Huge congrats to @dianatavf.bsky.social who led this project with incredible creativity and skill, just like she always does!
Deciphering the molecular landscape of human peripheral nerves: implications for diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus that is caused by metabolic toxicity to peripheral axons. We aimed to gain deep mechanistic insight into the disea...
www.biorxiv.org
August 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
This preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... is now accepted for publication in JCI! Heavily revised manuscript with tons of exciting new data should be online soon. Huge congrats to @dianatavf.bsky.social who led this project with incredible creativity and skill, just like she always does!
A short read on how #steroid #injections can help managing #ChronicPain, why they may be ineffective, and a frequently overlooked side effect they cause.
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/steroid...
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/steroid...
Steroid injections for chronic pain: How do they work (and why they may not)
Steroids are commonly administered via injection to help manage chronic pain. But how do they work, and why do they often seem ineffective?
www.michelecuratolomd.com
August 6, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A short read on how #steroid #injections can help managing #ChronicPain, why they may be ineffective, and a frequently overlooked side effect they cause.
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/steroid...
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/steroid...
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
A motivating quote from @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social:
“…You are discovering knowledge and gifting that to humanity for all of posterity. Once you learn something no one can take that away. It is not an object. It is an intellectual currency that will be shared throughout the generations…”
“…You are discovering knowledge and gifting that to humanity for all of posterity. Once you learn something no one can take that away. It is not an object. It is an intellectual currency that will be shared throughout the generations…”
July 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM
A motivating quote from @carolynbertozzi.bskyverified.social:
“…You are discovering knowledge and gifting that to humanity for all of posterity. Once you learn something no one can take that away. It is not an object. It is an intellectual currency that will be shared throughout the generations…”
“…You are discovering knowledge and gifting that to humanity for all of posterity. Once you learn something no one can take that away. It is not an object. It is an intellectual currency that will be shared throughout the generations…”
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
Go check out our new paper on spatial transcriptomics of human sympathetic chain ganglia! Huge thanks @saadyousuf.bsky.social and @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social for trusting me with this awesome project.
June 26, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Go check out our new paper on spatial transcriptomics of human sympathetic chain ganglia! Huge thanks @saadyousuf.bsky.social and @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social for trusting me with this awesome project.
Our study that found associations of cerebrospinal fluid metabolites with #ChronicPain in patients with spinal muscle atrophy
#SMA #metabolism #metabolites
doi.org/10.1093/pm/p...
#SMA #metabolism #metabolites
doi.org/10.1093/pm/p...
Cerebrospinal fluid metabolomics of pain in patients with spinal muscle atrophy
Dear Editor,
doi.org
May 5, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Our study that found associations of cerebrospinal fluid metabolites with #ChronicPain in patients with spinal muscle atrophy
#SMA #metabolism #metabolites
doi.org/10.1093/pm/p...
#SMA #metabolism #metabolites
doi.org/10.1093/pm/p...
The protocol of our multi-omics study in patients with #LowBackPain and #Fibromyalgia. Great collaboration with Daniel Raftery's lab and Darrell Henze at Merck. Aims: to identify molecular pathways potentially involved in these conditions, and identify #biomarkers.
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
Multi-omics profiles of chronic low back pain and fibromyalgia—Study protocol
Background Chronic low back pain (CLBP) and fibromyalgia (FM) are leading causes of suffering, disability, and social costs. Current pharmacological treatments do not target molecular mechanisms drivi...
dx.plos.org
April 17, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The protocol of our multi-omics study in patients with #LowBackPain and #Fibromyalgia. Great collaboration with Daniel Raftery's lab and Darrell Henze at Merck. Aims: to identify molecular pathways potentially involved in these conditions, and identify #biomarkers.
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
Exciting new work on #suzetrigine effects on spontaneously active human DRG neurons from patients/donors with a pain history. Short story is that suzetrigine is remarkably effective at blocking spontaneous activity. Collab with Dougherty lab at MDACC!
Suzetrigine (VX-548) exhibits activity-dependent effects on human dorsal root ganglion neurons https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.09.648014v1
April 15, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Exciting new work on #suzetrigine effects on spontaneously active human DRG neurons from patients/donors with a pain history. Short story is that suzetrigine is remarkably effective at blocking spontaneous activity. Collab with Dougherty lab at MDACC!
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
Suzetrigine (VX-548) exhibits activity-dependent effects on human dorsal root ganglion neurons https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.09.648014v1
April 15, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Suzetrigine (VX-548) exhibits activity-dependent effects on human dorsal root ganglion neurons https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.09.648014v1
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
Asta Arendt-Tranholm, @ish1789.bsky.social and others in our lab and the great team at UW led by @michelecuratolo.bsky.social latest preprint on mechanisms of neck pain in patients undergoing C1/C2 fusion surgery
Single-cell characterization of the human C2 dorsal root ganglion recovered from C1-2 arthrodesis surgery: implications for neck pain https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.24.645122v1
March 31, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Asta Arendt-Tranholm, @ish1789.bsky.social and others in our lab and the great team at UW led by @michelecuratolo.bsky.social latest preprint on mechanisms of neck pain in patients undergoing C1/C2 fusion surgery
Remarkable finding by our colleagues at WashU @robgereau.bsky.social and collaborators, stressing how promising is #NIH support to our #PRECISIONPain Center to find mechanisms and effective treatments for #ChronicPain
BOOM! Human DRG patch-seq with Nav1.8 and Nav1.7 upregulation associated with a history pain in organ donors. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Great stuff from the #PRECISIONPain Center at WashU led by @robgereau.bsky.social
Human sensory neurons exhibit cell-type-specific, pain-associated differences in intrinsic excitability and expression of SCN9A and SCN10A
Despite the prevalence of chronic pain, the approval of novel, non-opioid therapeutics has been slow. A major translational challenge in analgesic development is the difference in gene expression and ...
www.biorxiv.org
March 27, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Remarkable finding by our colleagues at WashU @robgereau.bsky.social and collaborators, stressing how promising is #NIH support to our #PRECISIONPain Center to find mechanisms and effective treatments for #ChronicPain
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
Discovery of a new class of natural antibiotics with a new mode of action to address antimicrobial resistance, a major unmet need
@mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A broad-spectrum lasso peptide antibiotic targeting the bacterial ribosome - Nature
A new lasso peptide antibiotic exhibits broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis, is unaffected by common resistanc...
www.nature.com
March 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Discovery of a new class of natural antibiotics with a new mode of action to address antimicrobial resistance, a major unmet need
@mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
@mcmasteruniversity.bsky.social
@nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Chronic pain in older adults: Previous studies raised concerns about gabapentin + opioids causing death. New research sheds light on this.
#ChronicPain #Opioids
#ChronicPain #Opioids
Pain management in seniors: Is gabapentin a death risk?
Gabapentin may not increase the risk of death when used with opioids, but its safety profile warrants cautious use.
www.michelecuratolomd.com
March 21, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Chronic pain in older adults: Previous studies raised concerns about gabapentin + opioids causing death. New research sheds light on this.
#ChronicPain #Opioids
#ChronicPain #Opioids
A great opportunity to learn about #mechanisms of #pain from the intervertebral disc at #USASP2025.
#LowBackPain #ChronicPain #Research @utdpaincenter.bsky.social
#LowBackPain #ChronicPain #Research @utdpaincenter.bsky.social
March 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A great opportunity to learn about #mechanisms of #pain from the intervertebral disc at #USASP2025.
#LowBackPain #ChronicPain #Research @utdpaincenter.bsky.social
#LowBackPain #ChronicPain #Research @utdpaincenter.bsky.social
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
Excited to present the result of a fantastic collaborative effort - funded by the National Institutes of Health, including the NIH HEAL Initiative, to develop safer analgesic drugs. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A cryptic pocket in CB1 drives peripheral and functional selectivity - Nature
A peripherally restricted CB1 agonist (VIP36) targeting a cryptic receptor pocket was developed, showing high efficacy in mouse pain models with minimal side effects and tolerance, potentially revolut...
www.nature.com
March 5, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Excited to present the result of a fantastic collaborative effort - funded by the National Institutes of Health, including the NIH HEAL Initiative, to develop safer analgesic drugs. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The FDA approval of @vertexpharm.bsky.social #suzetrigine is a groundbreaking development. Hopes for patients with pain, and a lesson to pain researchers.
#PainManagement #DrugDevelopment
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/a-new-d...
#PainManagement #DrugDevelopment
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/a-new-d...
New pain medication has been FDA-approved
In a groundbreaking development, the FDA has approved Vertex's suzetrigine for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain. This approval marks the introduction of a pain medication to the market i...
www.michelecuratolomd.com
February 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The FDA approval of @vertexpharm.bsky.social #suzetrigine is a groundbreaking development. Hopes for patients with pain, and a lesson to pain researchers.
#PainManagement #DrugDevelopment
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/a-new-d...
#PainManagement #DrugDevelopment
www.michelecuratolomd.com/post/a-new-d...
Reposted by Michele Curatolo, MD, PhD
More terrific writing from @dereklowe.bsky.social on the ongoing saga between DOGE and NIH that is, in my opinion, trying to strangle the greatest biomedical research engine the world has ever known: www.science.org/content/blog...
The Continuing NIH/NSF Crisis, Part III: Indirect Costs
www.science.org
February 10, 2025 at 10:12 PM
More terrific writing from @dereklowe.bsky.social on the ongoing saga between DOGE and NIH that is, in my opinion, trying to strangle the greatest biomedical research engine the world has ever known: www.science.org/content/blog...