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Faculty member: Dr. Ram Kandasamy

Discipline: Psychology/Neuroscience

General description of Dr. Kandasamy’s expertise:
I am a behavioral neuroscientist who is generally interested in the mechanisms underlying
chronic pain. I am interested in discovering new treatments for chronic pain, specifically
treatments that do not produce side effects. These treatments can be combinations of existing
drugs used in humans (e.g., opioids, cannabinoids) or new compounds that have yet to be used
in humans. I use laboratory rats to ensure the drugs produce pain relief without side effects by
measuring pain-related behaviors.

Related majors for this project:
Psychology, Biology

Project:
Chronic pain affects one third of the U. S. population and costs over $635 billion annually in
medical expenses and lost productivity. Poor analgesic efficacy and undesirable and/or
dangerous side effects greatly limit treatment options. Unfortunately, basic preclinical research
has provided almost no new treatments for chronic pain despite over 50 years of intense
animal research. This project will align preclinical research with clinical goals by shifting the
focus of animal studies from pain inhibition to restoration of normal life activity and elimination
of the negative consequences associated with pain. Specifically, we will determine: 1) whether
home cage wheel running is a reliable and clinically valid method to assess the effect of
inflammatory pain on normal functioning in rats; 2) whether drugs alone impact wheel running
behavior in the absence of pain; and 3) whether drugs can reverse pain-depressed functioning
in rats. The studies will determine what treatments (anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids,
cannabinoids, etc.) alter the development of these behaviors. The studies are important
because they will transform animal research, so it more closely models the human condition.
The benefits will extend from providing a method to assess spontaneous pain in animals to
ushering in a new era of analgesic drug discovery focused reversing the functional
consequences of pain. Given the past failure of drug discovery in pain research, validation of
these behaviors and identifying treatments that prevent the negative consequences of pain will
have a huge impact on improving both animal and human health.

Student-researcher expectations and responsibilities:

• Work a minimum of 3-5 hours per week on your research project
• Perform research carefully and ethically

Dr. Kandasamy’s contact info and instructions regarding what you need to provide when you
contact him about a student-research position:
Please e-mail Dr. Kandasamy at ram.kandasamy@csueastbay.edu stating your interest and
availability.