# Behavior Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND · 2021 · $296,627

## Abstract

The Behavior Core (BC) is built on a strong foundation of expertise in assessing behaviors to advance the pain 
field and early-stage drug discovery and development. Behavior Core Director Dr. Edward Bilsky is a well- 
established behavioral pharmacologist who has focused on developing novel analgesics for the treatment of 
acute and chronic pain. In addition to receiving numerous grants for his research, Dr. Bilsky has worked with 
biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and co-founded two companies, one of which has successfully 
brought a drug candidate into clinical trials. The BC’s experienced staff provides training and support for an 
extensive menu of behaviors related to pain and potential analgesic drug side-effects. The BC provides (a) 
standardized protocols and training between laboratories to reduce variability and increase reproducibility and 
validity for measures of nociceptive behavior; (b) advanced training and model development and validation 
(e.g., alternatives to reflexive nociceptive responses such as affective, cognitive and pain-suppressed 
readouts); (c) a centralized space for many behavioral assays and surgical procedures. During Phase I, the 
BC team successfully supported and trained COBRE personnel, consistently receiving outstanding user 
reviews on the services it provides. These services will continue to be provided to COBRE Project Leaders 
and other investigators during Phase II. In addition the BC will increase its offerings to meet the growing needs 
of COBRE investigators. New developments include expanded breeding and genotyping services to support 
the increased utilization of genetically modified mouse models, and support for investigators’ utilization of 
optogenetic approaches in behavioral studies. Continued training of Core research staff will be provided to 
ensure that the highest level of innovation and support can be provided to COBRE investigators. In expanding 
the Core services, the BC Director has worked closely with neighboring COBRE and INBRE supported 
research cores at the Maine Medical Research Institute and the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory. 
This coordination with other regional resources will allow the BC to broaden its user base as it prepares for 
long-term sustainability. Sustainability will also be facilitated by implementing a fee-for-service model and by 
continuing to work with industry partners. The Behavior Core is indispensible to the success of the research 
efforts of COBRE investigators. Continued investments in its capabilities will allow the Core to provide the 
latest experimental tools in animal research and help the Core transition to fiscal independence. Through 
utilization of these services, researchers and trainees are able to test novel compounds for the treatment of 
pain while gaining key insights into the function of the nervous system and mechanisms of acute and chronic 
pain.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10176519
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103643-10
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
- **Principal Investigator:** KERRY L TUCKER
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $296,627
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-08-15 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10176519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10176519, Behavior Core (5P20GM103643-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10176519. Licensed CC0.

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