Kara Marshall
Assistant Professor, Neuroscience
B.Sc., Texas A&M University
Ph.D., Columbia University
Internal organs move, stretch, and squeeze as part of their normal functions. The mechanical forces caused by these movements are detected by the nervous system to generate important sensations, such as a full bladder, and to govern physiological processes themselves, like urination. Unfortunately, during disease, internal forces can also cause pain. The Marshall Lab seeks to understand the molecules and cell types that mediate the detection of mechanical force within the body, in both healthy and disease states. We hope to uncover fundamental mechanisms of internal mechanosensation, and potentially pave the way for new therapies targeting internal pain.