Maddalena Comini
Post Doctoral Research Fellow
After completing my PhD in cellular biophysics at the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centre (Fz Jülich), I joined the lab of Prof. David Bennett at NDCN (Oxford), where I am studying the role of VGSC Nav1.7 and calcium-permeable TRPA1 in painful channelopathies. To pursue my research, I am using a multi-disciplinary approach, involving electrophysiological (patch clamp and MEA multi-electrode arrays) and molecular biology techniques. My aim is to get a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying pain perception and sensitivity, in different systems (HEK293T cells, DRG and human iPSC-d sensory neurons), to finally identify novel therapeutic targets.
I am a Tutor at Somerville College, where I teach Neurophysiology to 1st year Experimental Psychology undergraduates. At NDCN, I organise tutorials in Systems Neurosciences for 2nd and 3rd year Medical students. I also co-chair the Clinical Neurosciences Society, which aims at creating an inclusive environment, and bringing people together at NDCN.
Finally, I try to promote science and physiology-related research as Representative at NDCN for the Physiological Society UK, an international community which brings together scientists from a multicultural and diverse background
Recent publications
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Investigating genotype-phenotype relationship of extreme neuropathic pain disorders in a UK national cohort
Journal article
Themistocleous AC. et al, (2023), Brain Communications
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Investigating genotype-phenotype relationship of extreme neuropathic pain disorders in a national cohort: ’NIHR Bioresources Rare Disease – Neuropathic Pain Disorders’
Journal article
THEMISTOCLEOUS A. et al, (2022), Brain Communications
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CLC anion/proton exchangers regulate secretory vesicle filling and granule exocytosis in chromaffin cells
Journal article
Comini M. et al, (2022), The Journal of Neuroscience
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The Role of the Endosomal Chloride/Proton Antiporter ClC-5 in Proximal Tubule Endocytosis and Kidney Physiology
Journal article
Comini M. and ZIFARELLI G., (2022), Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
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Studying human nociceptors: from fundamentals to clinic
Journal article
Middleton SJ. et al, (2021), Brain, 144, 1312 - 1335