Speakers

Kathleen Meacham, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Pain Management, Washington University in St. Louis

Bridging the gap: using electronic medicine to unlock mechanisms in pain neuromodulation:  Within the field of pain medicine, there is both a need and a growing arsenal of devices that provide pain relief through electrical alteration of the pain pathway.  We are limited, however, in their effectiveness by an inability to definitively study their mechanisms in pre-clinical models.  This talk describes how advancements in electronic medicine are helping us bridge the gap between bedside and bench to uncover and refine ways in which existing clinical stimulation devices are providing relief for our patients in pain.

Robert W. Gereau IV, PhD, Professor of Anesthesiology & Director of Washington University Pain Center,  Washington University in St. Louis

Biocompatible optoelectronics: revolutionizing systems neuroscience and potential for precision pain relief:  “Optogenetics” is a new approach for manipulating genetically-specified cells and circuits in the nervous system using light, allowing unprecedented insight into how brain circuits are constructed and offering promise for a new generation of neuromodulation therapies. The requirement for external light sources drastically limited the range of uses for optogenetics. This lecture will describe the development of micro-scale, wirelessly powered light sources that can be fully implanted in the body, including the brain, to allow on-demand or closed-loop neuromodulation. Preclinical model examples are provided, and potential clinical applications will be discussed.

On the third Thursday of every month , ICTS Precision Medicine hosts a session featuring WashU faculty working in translational genomics/precision medicine areas. Talks are typically oriented toward biotechnology, diagnostics, informatics, start-ups and precision interventions based on medical genomics innovations.