Harrison Stratton, PhD

I use cutting edge techniques such as multiphoton calcium imaging and patch clamp electrophysiology to understand how neurons convey information from the outside world to the brain. My graduate training in electrophysiology with Dr. Rajesh Khanna gave me the skills to understand how peripheral sensory neurons encode signals before relaying them to the spinal cord. I leveraged these skills to explore the role of neurohormones on primary sensory neurons as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Frank Porreca at the University of Arizona. As a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Sarah Ross, I have worked to expand my skill set to include multiphoton calcium imaging that allows me to study whole populations of sensory neurons and identify those involved in encoding pain and itch.

As I look to launch my own research program in the near future, my lab will focus on two main branches of research 1) how do peripheral sensory neurons uniquely encode diverse sensory input? 2) How do descending projections from the brainstem modulate sensory input to promote chronic pain?