Shepherd Laboratory

The Shepherd Lab in MD Anderson's Department of Symptom Research seeks to understand the impact of neuroimmune interactions in chronic pain states. To that end, the lab conducts preclinical research to investigate the mechanisms that link inflammation to the pain induced by various forms of injury, including joint damage and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, with a particular focus on signaling related to the renin-angiotensin system. Macrophages are known to profoundly affect the progression of nerve injury and the associated pain, and these processes can be influenced by pre-existing systemic inflammation, such as that seen in obesity and certain types of cancer.