Beatriz de Moraes, Ph.D.

Research

In the Basbaum lab, I will explore how immune cells can reduce chronic pain during pregnancy. Chronic pain disproportionately affects women, who show increased susceptibility to conditions such as fibromyalgia and migraine. However, chronic pain often diminishes during pregnancy. Studies in mice have shown that immune cells are required for this pregnancy-associated analgesia. Now, using single-cell RNA sequencing and methods for tracking the activity of individual neurons, I will identify what type of immune cells contribute to this effect and determine whether they do so by producing opiate-like molecules or other pain-dampening chemicals. I will also assess how the activity of pain-detecting sensory neurons changes before and during pregnancy, findings that could lead to new treatments for managing chronic pain.