Inflammatory-induced changes in synaptic drive and postsynaptic AMPARs in lamina II dorsal horn neurons are cell-type specific
O Kopach, V Krotov, P Belan, N Voitenko, Pain 2015 156 (3), 428-438
Role: Author
Nana Voitenko
Ph.D., professor
Description of the field of scientific research:
Nana's research interests are in the central and peripheral mechanisms responsible for initiating, maintaining and recovering persistent pain resulting from peripheral inflammation and neuropathy. Specific topics of her research include the study of changes in the neuronal regulation of calcium ions and the functioning of spinal AMPA receptors during various types of experimentally induced pain syndromes.
Methods in which Nana is an expert include rodent models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain, animal behavioral testing, behavioral pharmacology, use of genetic silencing of spinal cord receptors, electrophysiology in spinal cord slices and whole spinal cord with simultaneous dorsal root stimulation. Recently, she has also been researching the possibility of restoring damaged peripheral nerves and spinal cord with the help of implants.
In addition, she participates in the project"Implementation of pan-European experience for the restoration of the world-class Neuroscience Center in Kyiv".
List of duties:
Nana is a rector of a medical institution of higher education. She is also a professor at the Department of Biomedicine and Neurosciences of the Kyiv Academic University and an adviser to the Minister of Education and Science on science issues.
Nana is the co-chair of the working group of the National Council for the preparation of proposals on the strategy for the development of state research infrastructure and a member of the active group of the National Council for the preparation of recommendations for the integration of domestic science into the global scientific space and the European research space, taking into account national interests.
Professional experience:
From 1992 to 1995, Nana was an engineer at the Department of General Physiology of the Nervous System at the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and from 1995 to 1996 she was a junior researcher in the same department.
In 1996, Nana became a research associate at the Max-Delbrouck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin (head Prof. G. Kettenmann).
In 1997-1998, Nana was a postdoctoral student at the Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, Iowa State University, USA (supervisor–Professor M. Randych).
In June-July 2001, January 2002, June 2002, and September-November 2003, Nana was a researcher in the laboratory of Professor M. Randich in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University.
From 1998 to 2012, Nana was a senior and leading (since 2005) researcher, head of the research group in the Department of General Physiology of the Nervous System, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
In 2013, Nana worked as a consultant at Charles River Laboratories, Kuopio, Finland.
From 2012 to 2016, she was the deputy director for scientific issues of the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and head of the sensor signaling laboratory, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
2017-2021 – Head of Sensory Signaling Department, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and from 2021 until today, she is the rector of the Dobrobut Academy Medical School.
In addition, from 2008 to today, Nana is a professor at the Department of Biomedicine and Neurosciences of the Kyiv Academic University of the Ministry of Education and Science and the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
It is also worth noting that until 2022 (since 2011), Nana was a member of the expert council (biological sciences) of the Academy of Sciences of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Ukraine. Until 2021 (since 2008) she was a member of the specialized scientific council of the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and a member of the scientific council of the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
In addition, from 2013 to 2014, Nana was a member of the specialized scientific council of the NSC "Institute of Biology" of Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. From 2010 to 2017, she was a member of the expert commission on biotechnology of the Department of Biochemistry, Physiology, and Molecular Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Today, Nana has been a member of the editorial board of the Physiological journal "Akademperiodyka" since 2015, a member of the editorial board of the journal "Neurophysiology" since 2016, an editor of the journal "Neuroscience Letters" since 2021, a reviewer of the journals "European Journal of Pharmacology," since 2000 Neuroscience Letters”, Elsevier, Netherlands; "British Journal of Pharmacology," Wiley, UK; "Journal of Pain, Elsevier, USA, since 2008 – organizer of the student school-seminar "Biophysical research methods" (annually) at the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and from 2023 – adviser to the Minister of Education and Science on science issues.