Congratulations to Principal Investigator, Dr. Kyle Baumbauer, and Co-Investigator, Dr. Erin E. Young, on their $433,579 NINDS R21 award for Targeting Acid Sensing Ion Channel Subunit 3 (ASIC3) to Disrupt Nociceptor Sensitization Following Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).  Most of what is known about the mechanisms underlying pain following spinal cord injury (SCI) has focused on changes occurring within the spinal cord. However, existing work has shown that primary afferents also contribute to the initiation and maintenance of SCI-induced chronic pain. The current study will examine the role of ASIC3 in the initiation of afferent sensitization and subsequent behavioral sensitivity. Dr. Baumbauer predicts that reduction of ASIC3 mRNA expression will attenuate the development of SCI-induced afferent sensitization and pain. Further, it is proposed that given the nature of SCI and the potential for early intervention, targeting ASIC3 at the time of injury may be effective at disrupting the processes underlying the development of persistent pain following SCI.