Axonal Excitability Across Disciplines: Bridging Mechanism, Measurement and Meaning in Pain Research

Session Title: Axonal Excitability Across Disciplines: Bridging Mechanism, Measurement and Meaning in Pain Research

Topic: EXPERIMENTAL (NON-CLINICAL) HUMAN STUDIES

Description: This workshop explores the mechanisms of peripheral nerve fiber excitability and their role in the development and maintenance of ongoing neuropathic pain. Bringing together experts from clinical, preclinical, and computational neuroscience, the event highlights cutting-edge methods and findings across disciplines. Topics include human and animal models, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology, and computational simulations of nerve excitability. The workshop aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration in the field of pain research. Attendees will not only gain insights into new approaches for diagnostic and stratifying tools but also in axonal excitability linked to ongoing pain due to small fiber neuropathy. Participants will explore how different approaches complement each other in understanding nerve excitability.

The workshop is ideal for researchers, clinicians, and students in neuroscience, pain medicine, and biomedical engineering.

The workshop comprises 4 speakers. Each speaker will deliver a concise 15-minute presentation, each followed by a 5 minute question session and time for round up discussion session at the end of the workshop.

Preclinical Assessments of Small Fiber Electrophysiology – Jim Dunham

This presentation introduces the use of peripheral multi-contact electrodes to measure small fiber function and dysfunction in rodent models. The technique enables single fiber resolution within multi fiber recordings, including direct quantification on ongoing nociceptor activity. Furthermore, on-electrode measurement of conduction velocity enables preliminary fiber classification, and differentiation between orthodromic and antidromic conduction. Recent efforts to translate this technology for human use will be described.

Microneurography: Decoding Human Pain and Itch at the Single-Fiber Level-Barbara Namer

This session highlights microneurography as a unique method for assessing axonal excitability in individual human nociceptors in vivo. We present recent insights into C-fiber excitability and their role in shaping pain and itch perception in health and neuropathic conditions. Emerging applications for patient stratification and diagnostic use, along with the necessary technical innovations and remaining challenges for clinical translation, will also be discussed.

Usability of Computational Models to Understand Axonal Excitability Alterations in Neuropathic Pain – Jenny Tigerholm.

Spontaneous activity of peripheral nerve endings has been identified as a possible biomarker for neuropathic pain. In this session, a novel computational model will be presented, developed to study the underlying mechanisms of spontaneous activity. In the dynamics of voltage-gated ion channels, stochastic noise has been added to generate cell membrane fluctuation. Furthermore, we will present how computational models can be used to design electrodes and excitability protocols to improve the assessment of the peripheral nerve endings’ excitability and thereby facilitate stratification of neuropathic pain patients.

Perception Threshold Tracking in Humans – Carsten Dahl Mørch

This session presents the use of the novel method ‘perception threshold tracking’ to assess small fiber excitability in healthy individuals and patients. The methodological advantages, e.g., non-invasiveness and ease-of-use, and limitations e.g., nerve fiber specificity and perception threshold estimation will be highlighted. Results from clinical applications in diabetes and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy will be presented.

Speakers

Jenny Tigerholm Uniklinik RWTH Aachen
Germany

Jenny Tigerholm is an Assistant Professor at RWTH Aachen University Hospital, where she leads an interdisciplinary research group dedicated to understanding the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain. She holds a degree in Engineering Physics and earned her PhD in Computer Science from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden.

With more than 15 years of experience in computational modeling, her research focuses on pathological changes in peripheral nerves. She develops multicompartmental models incorporating Hodgkin–Huxley ion channel dynamics to simulate neural behavior and investigate disease mechanisms.

More recently, she has expanded her research lab to include experimental investigation of peripheral nerve function using transcutaneous electrical stimulation and neurophysiological techniques such as Threshold Tracking, Perception Threshold Tracking, and Microneurography.

By integrating in computational modeling with experimental approaches, her work has contributed to the development of novel electrode designs for selective nociceptor activation and advanced excitability protocols capable of detecting alterations in specific sodium channel subtypes. Her overarching goal is to improve diagnostic methodologies and advance precision-medicine strategies for peripheral nerve disorders.

Jim Dunham University of Bristol
United Kingdom

I am an anaesthetist and pain physician with an interest in nociceptor physiology. We study nociceptor function in people via microneurography with forward and reverse translation to and from our preclinical rodent models.

Barbara Namer University hospital Wuerzburg
Deutschland

Barbara Namer
Institution : Julius Maximilians University Würzburg
Departement : Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive care,
Emergency and Pain medicine
Email : namer_b@ukw.de
Webpage : www.ukw.de/behandlungszentren/
zentrum-fuer-interdisziplinaere-schmerz
medizin/forschung
Children : three: 19y, 16y, 10y,

PROFESSIONAL CAREER
since 2025 Leader of a research group at the department of anaesthesiology, Intensive care, emergency and pain medicine
of the University hospital Würzburg
2019-2024 Leader of the research group Neuroscience: translational pain research at the Institute for neurophysiology at
the university hospital of the RWTH Aachen funded by the interdisciplinary center for clinical research (IZKF)
2018-2023 Independent group leader (third party funded, German research council, DFG) at the Institute for Physiology and
Pathophysiology of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg.
2016-2018 Independent group leader of the group “translational pain research in human experiments“ in Erlangen within
the collaborative research centre SFB 1158 at the University of Mannheim/Heidelberg
2011- 2015 Independent group leader (third party funded, German research council, DFG) at the Institute for Physiology and
Pathophysiology of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg.
2009–2011 Independent group leader (Grant for “Habilitation“) at the Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology of the
Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg
2003-2008 Postdoc at the Institute for Physiology and Pathophysiology at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-
Nürnberg, group of Prof..Handwerker
2004-2022 Yearly extended research visits at Rikshospitalet Oslo, Norway
2004-2008 Yearly extended research visits at the University hospital Uppsala, Sweden

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC DEGREES
2018 Title of adjunct professor “ Außerplanmäßige Professorin”,
University Erlangen-Nürnberg
2010 Venia legendi (Habilitation) for Physiology: University Erlangen-Nürnberg
2000 – 2004 Doctor of medicine, University Erlangen-Nürnberg,
Supervisor: Prof. Schmelz
2002 – 2003 Residency, Clinic for Neurology, University Erlangen-Nürnberg
1995 – 2002 MD program, University Erlangen-Nürnberg

Carsten Dahl Mørch Aalborg University
Denmark

Carsten Dahl Mørch is a Professor at Aalborg University working at the interface of biophysics, neuroscience, and clinical pain research. His work focuses on small‑fiber excitability and neuropathic pain, including the development of perception threshold tracking as a non‑invasive tool for assessing peripheral nerve function. His translational research integrates clinical studies, computational modeling, and experimental neurophysiology to develop biomarkers and improve stratification of patients with neuropathic pain.

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