IDP Students


	Advanced Concentration	Neuroscience
	Mentor	John K. Neubert, D.D.S., Ph.D.
	Department	Orthodontics
	Enrolled	August 2003
	Lab Room	D7-10
	Lab Phone	392-1079, 392-3440
	E-mail	hrossi@dental.ufl.edu
Education
B.A., Biology, Univ. N Carolina, Asheville
Dissertation Research
Orofacial pain is estimated to affect 20% of the U.S. population, yet a common aspect of these conditions, cold sensitivity is not clearly understood. The focus of my research is to investigate behavioral and molecular mechanisms underlying modulation of cold pain associated with acute and chronic facial pain conditions, with particular focus on Transient Receptor Potential (TRP)-family channels. Behavioral assessments used to evaluate nociception include a facial thermal reward-conflict operant assay, assessment of general activity by measuring rearing activity, and a standard von Frey assessment of mechanical sensitivity. These assays are used to evaluate nociceptive behavior following pharmacological interventions targeting specific TRP channels as well as models of pain. These behavioral evaluations will also be supported by a number of molecular techniques, including western blots and RT-PCR.
Publications
Vierck CJ, Jr., Acosta-Rua AJ, Rossi HL, Neubert JK. Sex differences in thermal pain sensitivity and sympathetic reactivity for two strains of rat. J Pain. 2008 May 15 [epub ahead of print] abstract
Rossi HL and Neubert JK. Effects of environmental enrichment on thermal sensitivity in an operant orofacial assay. Behav Brain Res. 2008 Mar 5;187(2):478-82. Epub 2007 Sep 21 abstract
Neubert JK, Rossi HL, Pogar J, Jenkins AC, Caudle RM. Effects of mu- and kappa-2 opioid receptor agonists on pain and rearing behaviors. Behav. Brain Funct. 2007 Sep 20;3:49 abstract
Rossi HL, Vierck CJ Jr, Caudle RM, Neubert JK. Characterization of cold sensitivity and thermal preference using an operant orofacial assay. Mol Pain. 2006 Dec 13;2(1):37 abstract
Neubert JK, Rossi HL, Malphurs W, Vierck CJ Jr, Caudle RM. Differentiation between capsaicin-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia using a thermal operant assay. Behav Brain Res. 2006 Jun 30;170(2):308-15. abstract
Neubert JK, Widmer CG, Malphurs W, Rossi HL, Vierck CJ Jr, Caudle RM. Use of a novel thermal operant behavioral assay for characterization of orofacial pain sensitivity. Pain. 2005 Aug;116(3):386-95. abstract
Abstracts Presented at Meetings
Rossi HL, Neubert JK. Use of operant assessment and a behavioral scoring system to assess neuropathic pain in rats. Neuroscience Medical Guild Competition, University of Florida; March 14, 2008
Rossi HL, Caudle RM, Yezierski RP, Vierck CJ, Jr., Neubert JK. Effects of icilin on thermal preference in the hindpaw and face of rats. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, 2007.
Neubert JK, Farzaneh HH, Malphurs W, Rossi HL, Jenkins AJ, Caudle RM. Capsaicin reduces mouse operant thermal outcome measures. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, 2007.
Rossi, HL, Vierck, CJ, Caudle, RM, Neubert, JK. Characterization of cold allodynia in males and females using an operant orofacial thermal assay. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, 2006.
Neubert, JK, Rossi, HL, Mannes, AJ, Jenkins, AC, Wexel, M, Caudle, RM, Iadarola, MJ. Modulating effects of resiniferatoxin on orofacial pain. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, 2006.
Rossi, H.L., Caudle, R.M., Vierck, C.J., Neubert, J.K. Characterization of Cold Nociception Using an Operant Orofacial Thermal Assay. Society for Neuroscience Meeting, 2005.
Honors & Awards
University of Florida Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences Neuroscience Concentration Travel Grant recipient, 2004-07
Travel Award to attend the Southeastern Nerve Net meeting, 2007
Fine Science Tools Travel Award, 2007
AAAS/Science Program for Excellence in Science one-year sponsored membership, 2005-06
Society for Neuroscience student member, 2003-present
Grinter Fellowship, 2003-06