Professor Andrew Dilley
Peripheral neuroinflammatory mechanisms of chronic musculoskeletal pain and the physiology of nociception
Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a significant healthcare challenge. Current treatments are often ineffective, which reflects a lack of clear understanding of what is causing the pain for many individuals. Examples of conditions include radiculopathies, repetitive motion disorders, whiplash injury, fibromyalgia, and non-specific arm pain. Many individuals present with symptoms consistent with a neuropathic pain condition.
Work from our laboratory suggests that these symptoms may be driven by inflammation of otherwise uninjured pain nerve fibres (called nociceptors) in peripheral nerves.
Our research utilises both human and laboratory studies. A typical research project may focus on characterising nociceptors in humans, or the development of inflammation-induced spontaneous activity and mechanical sensitivity along intact nociceptor axons, and how such aberrant activity may drive central mechanisms that lead to neuropathic pain. We are particularly interested in the role of nociceptors that innervate deep structures, such as muscle.
Human studies employ physiological techniques, such as microneurography to record from sensory nerve fibres, quantitative sensory testing, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the examination of blood and tissue samples to characterise sensory nerve fibres and to determine the role of peripheral neuroinflammation in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Laboratory studies focus on models of peripheral neuroinflammation. Single unit extracellular electrophysiological techniques, combined with behavioural and immunohistochemical procedures, are used to study the responses of nociceptor axons to inflammation. An area of particular interest is the role of axonal transport disruption.
For details of potential projects, please contact Prof Andrew Dilley (a.dilley@bsms.ac.uk).
Key references:
Ridehalgh C, Fundaun J, Bremner S, Cercignani M, Koushesh S, Young R, Novak A, Greening J, Schmid AB, Dilley A. Evidence for peripheral neuroinflammation after acute whiplash. Pain. 2025 Oct 1;166(10):2285-2299.
Fundaun J, Ridehalgh C, Koushesh S, Novak A, Tejos-Bravo M, Bremner S, Baskozos G, Dilley A, Schmid AB. The presence and prognosis of nerve pathology following whiplash injury: a prospective cohort study. Brain. 2025 Sep 3;148(9):3392-3406.
Goodwin G, Bove GM, Dayment B, Dilley A. Characterizing the Mechanical Properties of Ectopic Axonal Receptive Fields in Inflamed Nerves and Following Axonal Transport Disruption. Neuroscience. 2020 Mar 1;429:10-22.
Satkeviciute I, Goodwin G, Bove GM, Dilley A. Time course of ongoing activity during neuritis and following axonal transport disruption. J Neurophysiol. 2018; 119: 1993-2000.