welcome to the

Ribeiro-da-Silva Lab

for Research on Pain

The Lab

The Ribeiro-da-Silva lab, located in the McIntyre Building of McGill University, investigates mechanisms of chronic pain conditions in animal models of arthritis and neuropathic pain.

In the past, the lab was mainly specialized in confocal microscopy and immunocytochemistry at the light and electron microscopic levels, as well as in animal pain-related behaviour testing. However, in recent years we incorporated in our research biochemistry approaches, the use of transgenic models and of viral vectors, with the main goal of unravelling the detailed mechanisms leading to chronic pain states. Through collaboration with colleagues, we also have access to optogenetics and electrophysiology.

Research Areas

With our variety of basic science approaches we tackle the following areas of chronic pain to better understand this multifaceted disease.

Microglia in the spinal cord labelled with 3,3′- diaminobenzidine (DAB).

Neuropathic Pain

One of the most poorly managed chronic pain conditions, neuropathic pain (NP) is very complex. Our work focuses on spinal cord plasticity with an emphasis on spinal disinhibition and synaptic pruning. To investigate these questions we use multiple rat models of NP as well as various transgenic mouse lines.

Arthritis

Affecting 1 in 5 Canadians, arthritis is one of the most common forms of chronic pain. Our work investigates the peripheral and central changes that occur during the acute and chronic phases of this disease, including nerve sprouting, microgliosis, and KCC2 downregulation. To investigate these questions we use an ankle model of inflammatory and osteoarthritis developed in our lab.

Radiographic changes of rat ankle joint model in our osteoarthritis model. Ventral view of the ankle shows surface fibrillations in the talus (yellow).

Laminar organization of the dorsal horn, at the C4 level of the adult rat spinal cord. Micrographs taken from frozen cross sections, 50 μm in thickness, stained with toluidine blue.

Neural Circuitry

Dr. Ribeiro-da-Silva has been studying neuronal circuits in both the peripheral and central nervous systems for over 3 decades. In more recent years, his lab started to use genetic models and viral vectors to investigate plastic changes in the neuronal circuitry in the dorsal horn in animal models of arthritis and neuropathic pain.

Alfredo Ribeiro da Silva

MD, PhD

Alfredo Ribeiro Da Silva

Dr. Ribeiro-da-Silva received his MD and PhD in Porto, Portugal. His main research interest is the unravelling of the mechanisms underlying chronic pain, both in the central and peripheral nervous systems. He is particularly interested in animal models of arthritis pain and of neuropathic pain. Methods used in his lab include: immunocytochemistry at the light and electron microscopic levels, animal behaviour testing, and neurochemistry. He uses advanced tools such as replication deficient viral vectors to study synaptic circuits in the spinal cord and their changes in pain states. He is also investigating the effects of modulating the endogenous levels of neurotrophic factors as a potential therapeutic approach for arthritis and neuropathic pain. He is a core member of the Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain and an investigator of the Quebec Pain Research Network (QPRN).

The Research Team

Roseanna Rought

PhD Candidate – Neuroscience
(Co-supervised by Dr. Coderre) 

  • MSci Hons – University of Nottingham Neuroscience 

Rose Rodrigues

PhD Candidate –
Anatomy and Cell Biology                                 

  • Honors BSc. – University of British Columbia Cell & Developmental Biology

Manon St-Louis

     Research Technician

  • CEGEP – Ahuntsic
    Techniques de Chimie – Biologie
  • Bsc – l’Université de Montréal
    Sciences Biologiques

Nour Quteishat

    Research Assistant 

  • Bsc – Queen’s University Biology and Psychology 
  • MSc – Concordia University Neuroscience 

Simran Dhir

PhD Candidate -Pharmacology and Therapeutics                                                                        

  • Bsc – University of Toronto
    Pharmacology and Biomedical Toxicology

Hannah Derue

PhD Candidate – Neuroscience
(Co-Supervised by Dr. Mogil)                                     

  • BASc – University of Guelph-Humber Psychology

Investigates intracellular metabotropic Glu receptors in inflammatory & neuropathic pain. 

Investigates mitochondrial dynamics in neuropathic pain.

Optimizes protocols, trains staff  and manages lab safety, supplies & administration.

Aids on various research projects and manages administration & lab safety. 

Investigates maladaptive structural plasticity in the spinal dorsal horn in neuropathic pain.

Investigates novel opioid tapering paradigms in chronic pain models.

Our Facilities

Advanced Bio-Imaging Facility

Thanks to this McGill core facility we are able to perform advanced confocal and superresolution microscopy. In addition to modern software permitting complex analyses.

Centre for Advanced Bone and Periodontal Research

In conjunction with researchers at the Bone Centre, a McGill core facility we are able to assess joint degredation in our arthritis models using CT scans. Replicating findings in the clinical population.

Facility for Electron Microscopy Research

Johanne Ouellette utilizes this university facility to assist us in investigating changes associated with chronic pain at the electron micrograph level. This is a technique used by our lab since the beginning.

Contact

Interested in joining our lab? We would love to hear from you.