Brian Cairns PhD

Dr. Cairns' laboratory investigates basic mechanisms that underlie the development and maintenance of craniofacial pain, in particular, pain associated with temporomandibular disorders. A major focus of the research is to identify receptors in deep craniofacial tissues, such as the teeth, temporomandibular (jaw) joint and masticatory muscles, that may provide novel targets for the development of analgesics to treat this pain. Many pain disorders that affect the craniofacial region occur much more commonly in women than in men. A second major focus of the laboratory is to investigate biological mechanisms that may contribute to sex-related differences in craniofacial pain conditions.