Welcome to the Pain and Neuroinflammation Imaging Lab
(PI: Marco Loggia, PhD)
Who are we?
The Loggia Lab’s main research questions focus on the brain mechanisms of pain in humans. We are particularly interested in the evaluation of neuroimaging metrics as potential biomarkers of clinical pain, and in the identification of brain alterations occurring in patients suffering from chronic pain conditions.
Some of the lab’s most recent work focuses on the exploration of the role of non-neural cells in the brain (glial cells) and their interplay with neural cells as a potential pathophysiological mechanism in patients with chronic pain. While neuroinflammation has been the subject of intense investigation in animal models, as of today it has been heavily understudied in humans.
In the quest to achieve a deeper understanding of the brain mechanisms of human pain, we use a variety of psychophysical and brain imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – including Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) fMRI and Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) – as well as integrated Positron Emission Tomography / Magnetic Resonance (PET/MR) imaging.
Latest News
- New paper “Trigeminal nerve microstructure is linked with neuroinflammation and brainstem activity in migraine” out now!We are pleased to announce a newly published paper on the relationship between Trigeminal nerve microstructure, neuroinflammation and brainstem activity. Background: Although the pathophysiology of migraine involves a complex… Read more: New paper “Trigeminal nerve microstructure is linked with neuroinflammation and brainstem activity in migraine” out now!
- New paper “Extra-axial inflammatory signal and its relationship to peripheral and central immunity in depression” out now!We are pleased to announce a new paper on the relationship between peripheral and central immunity in depression and extra-axial inflammatory signal in collaboration with King’s College London and… Read more: New paper “Extra-axial inflammatory signal and its relationship to peripheral and central immunity in depression” out now!
- “A Journey to Image Inflammation in Human Chronic Pain Conditions” by Dr. Emily MillsBackground: The study of inflammation in chronic pain conditions has evolved dramatically over the past decade, largely thanks to the pioneering work of researchers like Marco Loggia, Associate Professor… Read more: “A Journey to Image Inflammation in Human Chronic Pain Conditions” by Dr. Emily Mills
- New paper on the relationship between skull marrow TSPO signal and inflammation in depression in collaboration with King’s College London, University of Cambridge, and University of Padova is out now!We are pleased to announce a new publication on the relationship between skull marrow TSPO signal and inflammation in depression in collaboration with King’s College London, University of Cambridge,… Read more: New paper on the relationship between skull marrow TSPO signal and inflammation in depression in collaboration with King’s College London, University of Cambridge, and University of Padova is out now!
- New paper “Neuroinflammation”: does it have a role in chronic pain? Evidence from human imaging is out now!We are pleased to announce the new publication titled “Neuroinflammation”: does it have a role in chronic pain? Evidence from human imaging” by Marco! Despite hundreds of studies demonstrating… Read more: New paper “Neuroinflammation”: does it have a role in chronic pain? Evidence from human imaging is out now!
- New paper in collaboration with Prof. Mainero titled “Phenotyping In Vivo Chronic Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis by Combined 11C-PBR28 MR-PET and 7T Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging” is out now!We are pleased to announce a new publication in collaboration with Prof. Mainero titled “Phenotyping In Vivo Chronic Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis by Combined 11C-PBR28 MR-PET and 7T Susceptibility-Weighted… Read more: New paper in collaboration with Prof. Mainero titled “Phenotyping In Vivo Chronic Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis by Combined 11C-PBR28 MR-PET and 7T Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging” is out now!