NYU Bluestone Center’s Yi Ye Awarded a 2015 Early Career Research Grant from the International Association for the Study of Pain

Newswise — Yi Ye, MS, PhD, associate director, Clinical Research Operations at NYU’s Bluestone Center for Clinical Research at the NYU College of Dentistry (NYUCD) and assistant professor in NYUCD’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, was selected as one of six winners of the International Association for the Study of Pain’s (IASP) 2015 Early Career Research Grant Award by the IASP Fellowships, Grants, and Awards Working Group. The IASP received 57 applications from 22 countries for the 2015 program.

Dr. Ye’s project is "Resolvin D2 as a novel therapy for head and neck cancer progression and pain."

“Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have a poor survival rate and often experience significant pain,” says Dr. Ye. “Cancer pain and progression might result from shared pathways that involve chronic inflammation and/or TRP channels; drugs that inhibit inflammation and/or TRP channels might diminish both tumor progression and pain. Resolvin D2 (RvD2), a newly discovered mediator derived from endogenous omega-3 fatty-acid, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory actions and an inhibitory effect on TRPV1/A1.”

Dr. Ye’s research seeks to evaluate whether RvD2 is analgesic and/or anti-proliferative in HNSCC models. She will inhibit TRPV1/A1 expressed on cancer and on primary afferent neurons with RvD2 and measure nociceptive behaviors and tumor size in HNSCC mice. The role of RvD2 and TRPV1/A1 on cell proliferation will be determined with a real-time cell analyzer (RTCA). Expression levels of TRPV1/A1 on cancer and neurons will be determined using immunofluorescence staining, western blot, and RT-PCR. The effect of RvD2 on TRPV1/A1 function in neurons will be measured using calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamping.

“These studies will provide insight into the mechanisms underlying HNSCC progression and pain and reveal the therapeutic potential of RvD2,” says Dr. Ye.

Earlier this year, Dr. Ye was selected as a Pain Scholar by the Rita Allen Foundation for the proposal, "The role of Schwann cells in neural invasion and associated cancer pain." She was recognized at the American Pain Society's Annual Meeting in May 2015.

Dr. Ye holds a PhD in neuroscience, a Master’s degree in clinical research, and is expecting her MBA from NYU Stern in 2016. She is a certified principal investigator (CPI) through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP). Her research aims to understand the neurobiological basis of cancer pain, with additional focus on carcinogenesis and tumor progression. She is interested in both preclinical and clinical drug development in cancer pain treatment.

About the Bluestone Center for Clinical Research--The Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, in conjunction with the NYU Oral Cancer Center, is an academic research organization located at the NYU College of Dentistry. Bluestone's mission is to take a creative scientific approach to transform world health. Bluestone is dedicated to conducting research in oral cancer, cancer symptomology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, emerging biotechnology, periodontics, implants, and oral health products.About New York University College of Dentistry--Founded in 1865, New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD) is the third oldest and the largest dental school in the US, educating more than 8 percent of all dentists. NYUCD has a significant global reach and provides a level of national and international diversity among its students that is unmatched by any other dental school.

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