# BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application

> **NIH VA IK6** · OKLAHOMA CITY VA MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · —

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
My primary research interest focuses on the central nervous system regulation of visceral pain with a strategic
objective of using preclinical rodent models and multiple state-of-the-art techniques, from molecular and
cellular to behavioral, pharmacological and electrophysiological methods to advance basic scientific knowledge
that has direct relevance to the diagnosis and treatment of veterans with visceral pain. Below I have
summarized the main research projects in my laboratory.
1. Central Neural Circuitry Underlying Anxiety and Visceral pain: Mechanisms of Resilience and Novel
Treatments: In one aspect of my research we are studying the neuroanatomical and neuropharmacological
substrates involved in the interaction between visceral pain and anxiety. My research focuses on the role of
amygdala-mediated mechanisms in the control of visceral and somatic pain and the mechanisms connecting
anxiety and visceral (colonic) hypersensitivity. We are attempting to identify at least one potential neural
substrate that might be involved in the central processing of visceral pain. From there we hope to identify a
receptor mechanism within the neural substrate that mediates central processing of visceral pain. A long-term
goal is to investigate how the neural substrate modulates visceral pain sensitivity within the larger neural
pathway controlling anxiety, and use this knowledge to identify potential pharmacotherapeutic targets in the
central processing pathway that mediates visceral pain. We have demonstrated long lasting increases in
anxiety-like behavior and viscerosomatic sensitivity in response to the local exposure of the amygdala to
corticosterone (CORT). We found persistent down-regulation of GR expression and increases in the
expression of CRF and HCN1 channels leading to hyper-excitability of the CeA neurons. These changes in
gene expression represent a potential mechanism leading to chronic anxiety and pain, via facilitation of the
HPA axis. The objective of latest experiments has been to use gene knockdown to directly manipulate CRF
and GR expression in the central amygdala. We found that knockdown of CRF within the amygdala inhibits
stress-induced chronic visceral and somatic pain, and that loss of GR within the amygdala is key to triggering
visceral and somatic pain. Such findings are relevant for the future development of gene targeted therapeutics
to treat stress-induced visceral and somatic pain (Funded by the Department of Veteran's Affairs Merit Award:
2013-2017).
2. Early life stress on visceral and somatic pain in adulthood: Sex differences. In women, IBS is the most
prevalent GI disorders. Emotional stressors, increased anxiety or uni- and bipolar associative disorders often
exacerbate symptoms. Despite this knowledge and evidence that females embody strong connections to life
stressors, physical/sexual abuse and an emotionally reactive disposition related to the outbreak of
symptomatology, there has been very...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10046730
- **Project number:** 5IK6BX003610-05
- **Recipient organization:** OKLAHOMA CITY VA MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld
- **Activity code:** IK6 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-10-01 → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10046730

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10046730, BLR&D Research Career Scientist Award Application (5IK6BX003610-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10046730. Licensed CC0.

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