Annina Schmid is a Professor of Pain Neuroscience and is head of the Neuromusculoskeletal Health and Science Lab. We spoke to her ahead of her Departmental Seminar.
Tell us a little about yourself, and what attracted you to working at the University of Oxford?
I am a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, and have a longstanding interest in seeing and researching people with nerve-related pain. After my PhD, I was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the Australian NHMRC to study 2 years in England followed by 2 years back in Australia. However, I really liked my work in Oxford; the stimulating environment, the exciting collaborations, the academic freedom (as long as you find funding) and the historical college environment all outweighed cycling around potholes in the typical English drizzles. So, I thought I would stay a bit longer here, and that is now almost 12 years ago!
How did you get to where you are today? Can you tell us more about your career path?
To be honest, it was hard work. There is no such thing as a clinical academic pathway for Physiotherapists. I am quite jealous of the ample opportunities medical doctors have in the UK. I had to figure things out myself. That included a lot of geographical flexibility as well as perseverance. After having worked for several years clinically in Switzerland, I chose to go to Australia not only because of the beautiful beaches and sun, but mostly because it is internationally leading in Physiotherapy Research. During my Master’s degree, I got infected by the research bug and stayed for a PhD. And then things went from there: I got fellowship support from the Australian NHMRC, the Swiss National Science Foundation and was ultimately the very first allied health professional to receive a Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust. This independent funding allowed me to establish my own research niche, build a strong and motivated team and do exciting science all while still maintaining some clinical practice. Importantly, I was very lucky to be supported by amazing mentors along the way.
Can you give us a brief overview of your research?
I am heading the Neuromusculoskeletal Health and Science Lab at NDCN. We are an interdisciplinary research group using an exciting bench to bedside approach. We combine clinical methodologies (e.g., psychophysical testing, neurophysiological recordings) with advanced neuroimaging of peripheral nerves and cellular and molecular analyses of human bio-samples to gain a detailed understanding of changes associated with nerve injuries and neuropathic pain. We also have a special interest in the management of neuropathic pain and in specific entrapment neuropathies with the ambition to develop precision physiotherapy for these patients.
What is the aim/vision for your research?
Entrapment neuropathies such as sciatica are the most common reason for neuropathic pain. Unfortunately though, first-line treatments such as physiotherapy or pharmacology remain largely ineffective. This means that about a third of patients develop persistent pain, with little hope of recovery.
My research aims to unravel the complexities and heterogeneity of entrapment neuropathies with the ultimate goal to develop more effective, targeted management and improve quality of life for these patients.
What can we expect from your Departmental Seminar?
I will take you on an exciting journey from lab discoveries to real-world patient care. I will highlight how studying patients with entrapment neuropathies like carpal tunnel or sciatica in detail helps us to advance our understanding of mechanisms involved in nerve injury and neuropathic pain. I will show how these findings are not only transforming our scientific understanding but also shaping clinical practice, bringing us closer to more effective treatments for patients.
What key question are you trying to answer in your Departmental Seminar?
One of my main foci will be on the role of neuroinflammation and how it relates to nerve injury and neuropathic pain both at a molecular as well as at a clinical level.