| Citation | John Wood has made fundamental discoveries on mechanisms of pain processing in the mammalian nervous system. Through the application of modern molecular methods, Wood has identified genes that define nociceptive sensory neurons, and has explored their physiological functions. His pioneering work on physiological and behavioural deficits in genetically modified mice that lack sensory neuron selective Na+ channel genes has revealed basic principles of thermal, mechanical and chemical transduction and has forged a new and direct link between ion channel expression and sensory modality. His work has had immediate effect on the design of more selective analgesic drugs. |