In her presentation, Prof. Diatchenko will explore the role of NF-κB signaling in neutrophils and its contribution to fibromyalgia persistence. She will discuss how NF-κB inhibition in these immune cells influences disease mechanisms, potentially sustaining chronic pain and inflammation.
By presenting recent findings and their implications, she will offer insights into novel therapeutic targets that could help disrupt this pathological cycle and improve patient outcomes.
Prof. Luda Diatchenko, earned her MD and PhD in the field of Molecular Biology from the Russian State Medical University. Dr. Diatchenko started her career in industry as the Leader of the RNA Expression Group at Clontech, Inc., and later served as Director of Gene Discovery at Attagene, Inc. During this time, she contributed to the development of widely used molecular tools for analyzing gene expression and regulation, many of which are highly cited.
Dr. Diatchenko began her academic career in 2000 at the Center for Neurosensory Disorders, University of North Carolina. Since then, her research has focused on uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which functional genetic variations influence pain perception and the risk of developing chronic pain conditions.
Her work aims to identify new drug targets, predict treatment responses to analgesics, and improve diagnostics. Dr. Diatchenko is a frequent speaker at national and international pain research conferences. Through multiple collaborations, the Diatchenko group translates genetic findings from human association studies to molecular and cellular mechanisms, animal models, and ultimately, human clinical trials.
Dr. Diatchenko holds a joint appointment in the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and the Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, at McGill University, Canada.
