Upcoming ION Seminars




Please note the location change to the Knight Campus Beetham Family Seminar Room and earlier pre-seminar reception start time of 3:30pm for this week's seminar.
From the sky bridge cross to Knight Campus and take either the stairs of elevator to the first floor (street level). The seminar room will be to the left, and the reception will be just outside of the room.
My lab aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the sensations of itch, touch, and pain. Humans rely on these senses for a broad range of essential behaviors. For example, acute pain acts as a warning signal that alerts us to noxious mechanical, chemical, and thermal stimuli, which can potentially damage tissue. Likewise, itch sensations trigger reflexes that may protect us from disease-carrying insects. Despite these essential protective functions, itch and pain can outlast their usefulness and become chronic diseases. We use cellular physiology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, and behavioral studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying itch and pain transduction under normal and pathophysiological conditions. This talk will highlight the interactions between the nervous system and immune system that promote chronic itch, pain and inflammation.


This academic year will host a series of virtual and in person seminars with live, remote access via Zoom. ION Seminars are open to the University of Oregon community and in person attendance is welcome. In person seminars will be held in Willamette 110 at 4 PM PT where both attendees and speakers are required to follow University of Oregon guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Please visit coronavirus.uoregon.edu for more information.
To accommodate remote speakers and time differences, some seminars may be offered at Noon PT or another agreed upon time. For students taking BI 407/507 Neuroscience Seminar please contact the course instructor to access recordings as needed.
Details for upcoming seminars will be shared here on the ION website as well as through our ION mailing lists. Links for remote access via Zoom will be available only through ION Seminar mailing list and those not on the list can request access by contacting Jenna Penny with their uoregon.edu email address.