Faculty Research

H Thomas Cheng, MD (chengt@umich.edu)
Associate Professor

Dr. Cheng’s research is focused on studying the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain. He uses animal models of neuropathic pain to study the molecular and biochemical events associated with neuropathic pain. He performs behavior analysis for animal models and correlates pain behaviors with gene and protein expression for nociceptive molecules in primary sensory neurons and the spinal cord. He further dissects the signaling cascades activated by neuropathic pain and determines the key signaling pathways for the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Currently, he is studying the roles of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors in neuropathic pain of type 2 diabetes. He discovered that enhanced nerve growth factor expression and its associated intracellular signaling pathways could contribute to painful diabetic neuropathy. These pathways are triggered by the activation of NGF receptor (Trk A) and downstream signaling molecules including mitogen activated protein kinases. By delineating these pathways, new cellular targets will be identified for treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy, a common and disabling complication of diabetes.