Joshua Adler

Dr. Joshua E Adler, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology and Anatomy and Cell Biology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, is the section chief of the Comprehensive Pain Service at the John Dingell Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit. Dr. Adler's laboratory has long been devoted to the study of neuropathic pain, its etiology and pathophysiology and potential ways of relieving it. They are currently comparing biologic characteristics of two related nerve injuries, only one of which reduces withdrawal threshold to light touch (allodynia). Allodynic rats demonstrate marked changes in neuropeptide expression within the dorsal spinal cord. Rats with similar lesions, but without allodynia display normal peptide expression. They are investigating potential mechanisms to account for the difference is response, including expression of trophic factors and cytokines. At the same time, they are investigating novel methods for preventing pain after nerve injury. By binding specific trophic factors, which have analgesic properties, to synthetic scaffolding on which nerves can grow, they can prevent the development of neuropathic pain. This work has major implications with regard to treatment and may help prevent the late occurrence of pain after injury. Yeshiva University, BA, 1969 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, MD, PhD (Anatomy) 1975 Internship - New York Hospital, New York, NY, 1976-1979 Fellowship - Cornell University Medical College, 1979-1982 Prior appointment - Cornell University Medical College, 1983-1990