Alex Keyes

Mentor: Yuriy M. Usachev, PhD

Year Entered Into Program: 2017

Terminal Degree(s) Received: PhD 2023

Affiliations

  • Pharmacology

Research Description

Determining the role of neuro-immune interaction within the spinal cord in pain sensitization

The underlying mechanisms of neuropathic pain are not well defined, and a potential mechanism is central sensitization in the spinal cord. I will use neuron- and microglia- specific GCaMP mouse lines and two-photon microscopy in a novel intact spinal cord preparation to examine how the complement system and microglia regulate synaptic Ca2+ signaling, nociceptive synaptic transmission and central sensitization after nerve injury. I will also test the role of this neuro-immune interaction in the development of neuropathic pain.   

Awards

  • Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Retreat Poster Award, 2018

  • Fellowship appointment on the Pharmacological Sciences Training Program (NIH T32 GM067795), University of Iowa, 2018-2020

  • Rainbir K. Bhatnagar Scholar Award, 2019

  • James M. Spratt Scholar Award, 2019

  • International Association for the Study of Pain Financial Aid Award, 2020

  • USASP Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Scholarship Award, 2022

  • Flatiron Institute - Center for Computational Neuroscience Workshop on Calcium & Voltage Imaging Analysis, 2022

  • CCN Workshop Travel Grant, 2022

Publications

  1. Keyes AL, Kim YC, Bosch PJ, Usachev YM, Aldridge GM.  Stay or go? Neuronal activity in medial frontal cortex during a voluntary tactile preference task in head-fixed mice. Cell Calcium. 96:102388, 2021. PMID: 33740531; PMCID: PMC8224542

  2. Warwick CA, Keyes AL, Woodruff TM, Usachev YM.  The complement cascade in the regulation of neuroinflammation, nociceptive sensitization, and pain. J Biol Chem, 297(3):101085, 2021.  PMID: 34411562; PMCID: PMC8446806.

Abstracts

  1.  Keyes, A.L. and Bestwick, M. Effects of Δtor1 on Yeast Longevity via Chronological Lifespan Assay. Murdock College Science Research Conference, Spokane, WA, November 2016.  Poster presentation.

  2.  Keyes, A.L. and Bestwick, M. Effects of Δtor1 on Yeast Longevity via Chronological Lifespan Assay. American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 2016. Poster presentation.

  3.  Keyes, A.L. and Bestwick, M. Effects of Δtor1 on Yeast Longevity via Chronological Lifespan Assay. Linfield Student Symposium, McMinnville, OR, May 2016. Poster presentation.

  4.  Keyes, A.L. and Bestwick, M. Effects of Δtor1 on Yeast Longevity via Chronological Lifespan Assay. Oregon Academy of Sciences, Corvallis, OR, February 2017. Poster presentation.

  5. Keyes, A.L., Warwick, C.A., and Usachev, Y.M. Determining the Role of Presynaptic Ca2+ Signaling in the Spinal Cord in Pain Sensitization. Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Retreat, Coralville, IA, August 2018. Poster presentation.

  6. Keyes, A.L., Warwick, C.A., Shutov, L.P., Krotov, V.V., Belan, P.V., and Usachev, Y.M.  Defining Pre- and Post-synaptic Ca2+ Signaling in the Spinal Cord in Pain Sensitization. American Pain Society, Milwaukee, WI, April 2019. Poster presentation.

  7. Keyes, A.L., Warwick, C.A., Shutov, L.P., Krotov, V.V., Belan, P.V., and Usachev, Y.M.  Defining Pre- and Post-synaptic Ca2+ Signaling in the Spinal Cord in Pain Sensitization. Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, October 2019. Poster presentation.

  8. Sugiyama, D., Keyes, A.L., Usachev, Y.M., Brennan, T.J., and Kang, S.  Evaluation of incision-induced sensitization of peripheral sensory afferents in muscle using in vivo GCaMP3 imaging. Society for Neuroscience, Chicago, IL, October 2019. Poster presentation.

  9. Keyes, A.L., Kim, Y.C., Bosch, P.J., Usachev, Y.M., and Aldridge, G.M.  Stay or go? Neuronal activity in medial frontal cortex during a voluntary tactile preference task in head-fixed mice. Society for Neuroscience, Online, November 2021. Poster presentation.

  10. Agashkov, K., Keyes, A.L., Romanenko, S., Halaidych, O., Andrianov, Y., Voitenko, N., Usachev, Y.M., and Belan, P.V.  C5a signaling in spinal mechanisms of chronic pain. Society for Neuroscience, Online, November 2021. Poster presentation.

  11. Keyes, A.L., Kim, Y.C., Bosch, P.J., Usachev, Y.M., and Aldridge, G.M.  Stay or go? Neuronal activity in medial frontal cortex during a voluntary tactile preference task in head-fixed mice. U.S. Association for the Study of Pain, Cincinnati, OH, May 2022. Poster presentation.

Research