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Division of Intramural Research

Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits

DIR_Chesler

Alexander (Alex) Chesler, Ph.D., heads the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. This lab is interested in how sensory input is detected and processed by the brain to evoke specific behaviors. Our work focuses on identifying peripheral somatosensory neurons tuned to specific types of stimuli, the molecules they use for transduction, and the neural circuits that they activate. Through our research we seek to understand the basis by which some stimuli are perceived as innocuous while others are perceived as noxious and how these distinctions are modulated by physiological state or prior experience. The hope is that improving our knowledge of these basic mechanisms will be useful in developing new therapeutic approaches for treating acute and chronic pain. Our lab uses mouse genetics, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, in vivo two-photon imaging, and behavior to study how sensory stimuli are detected and encoded. Together, these approaches help us to better understand the importance of specific molecules for the responses of defined classes of sensory neurons and to map neural pathways for touch and pain in the brain. In parallel, we have identified a cohort of patients with a rare inherited disorder affecting mechanosenstion due to damaging mutations in the gene PIEZO2. Studying these patients helped define the role of this particular gene in human mechanosensation and allowed us to probe basic questions about the role select sensory inputs play in perception. Most importantly, working with these patients allows us to ask questions about human experience that, by definition, are impossible to answer using animal models. We are now positioned to take what we learn from these patients to guide our studies in mice and vice versa.

Lab Chief

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Dr. Chesler received his degrees from Bard College (B.A., 1995) and Columbia University (Ph.D., 2005). His graduate study, in the laboratory of Dr. Stuart Firestein, was focused on the function and development of olfactory sensory neurons. He did his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. David Julius at the University of California, San Francisco, where he combined physiological, anatomical, and behavioral approaches to study the pharmacology of somatosensory neurons. He was recruited to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intramural pain program in 2013 as a Stadtman Investigator and became a senior investigator in 2020 with joint appointments in the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. His laboratory employs multidisciplinary approaches to study how sensory stimuli, such as temperature, touch, and environmental irritants, are detected and encoded by the somatosensory system in mice and humans. His research seeks to uncover the basis by which some stimuli are perceived as innocuous while others are perceived as noxious and how these distinctions are modulated by physiological state or prior experience. The hope is that improving our knowledge of these basic mechanisms will be useful in developing new therapeutic approaches for treating acute and chronic pain.  Among his achievements within the intramural program, Dr. Chesler has received two DDIR (Deputy Director of Intramural Research) Innovation Awards for his work on pain, a Bench-to-Bedside award focused on the use of natural products to treat mechanical allodynia, an NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM)-initiative funded collaboration with NCATs to discover new treatments for chronic pain, and has helped to establish the NIH Pain Research Center in the NIH Clinical Center. 

Lab Members

Rakshita Balaji, Postbaccalaureate Fellow Sensory Cells and Circuits lab

Rakshita Balaji, Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Rakshita Balaji is a postbac IRTA research fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. In 2023, Rakshita earned a B.S. in cellular, molecular, and physiological neuroscience and high honors in biology from the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP). While at UMCP, Rakshita conducted research in the lab of Dr. Melissa Caras, where she studied auditory perceptual learning in Mongolian gerbils and defended her senior thesis. Previously, she was an intern in the Keller Laboratory of Sensory Perception at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine, where she worked under Dr. Jason Alipio to investigate the effect of perinatal fentanyl exposure on somatosensory development in mice. Broadly, Rakshita is interested in mapping neural circuits that support sensory perception using interdisciplinary approaches in systems neuroscience. Aside from research, Rakshita enjoys teaching and participating in science outreach. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience.

Nima Ghitani, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

Nima Ghitani, Ph.D., is a postdoc fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. He can be reached at nima.ghitani@nih.gov or 301-443-7388.

Raíza Rafael-Bonomo Hardy, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow

Raíza Rafael-Bonomo Hardy, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

Raíza Rafael-Bonomo Hardy is a postdoctoral fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. She graduated from the Federal University of Sao Paulo in 2014 with a B.S. in biomedical sciences. She then obtained her M.S. in cell and molecular biology from Illinois Institute of Technology in 2016. Raíza earned her Ph.D. in cell and molecular physiology from Loyola University Chicago (2021). Her Ph.D. dissertation aimed at understanding how gut microbiome dysbiosis in obesity could be linked to neuropathy and neuropathic pain. Raíza joined the Chesler lab in the fall of 2021, and she is currently working on the role of Piezo2 in proprioception and dexterous behavior. Her work is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Competitive Fellowship Award. She can be reached at raiza.hardy@nih.gov.

Monessha Jayabalan 2022 headshot

Monessha Jayabalan, Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Monessha Jayabalan is a postbac IRTA research fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. Monessha graduated with a B.S. from Allegheny College with a major in neuroscience and a minor in economics. She then received her M.S. from American University in biotechnology, with a specialization in drug design and discovery. She is currently working on a project focused on using behavioral assays and circuit manipulation to understand the descending modulation of pain by predator threats. She hopes to go on to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience. 

Ruby Lam, Chesler Lab, DIR

Ruby Lam, Predoctoral Fellow

Ruby Lam, B.S., is a predoctoral fellow in the section on Sensory Cells and Circuits and a graduate student in the Brown Graduation Partnership Program. She holds a degree from Emory University (B.S. in neuroscience and behavior biology, predictive health 2014). She joined the lab in 2017 after postbaccalaureate work in Dr. Shih-Chieh Lin's lab, where Ruby studied basal forebrain circuitry. She is currently studying molecules and neurons underlying touch. Broadly, she is interested in understanding the components necessary for creating adequate sensory perceptions. She can be reached at ruby.lam@nih.gov or 301-594-3296.

View Ruby Lam's publications.

Donald McDonald, Chesler Lab, DIR

Donald Iain MacDonald, Ph.D., Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

Donald Iain MacDonald, Ph.D., is a visiting postdoctoral fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. He graduated from the University of Oxford in 2015 with a B.A. in cell and systems biology, and then earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from University College London in 2020, supervised by Professor John Wood. His doctoral research used in vivo imaging to explore nociceptor function in different pain states. In 2020, he was a postdoctoral scientist at the University of Zurich in Professor Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer's lab, where he worked on spinal serotonin signaling. He came to the National Institutes of Health in 2021 and is currently investigating the neuropeptide and circuit mechanisms that control pain and its modulation in the brain. He is broadly interested in neuroethology and linking the function of molecules with behavior. His work is supported by an EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowship and a Branco Weiss Fellowship. He can be reached at donaldiain.macdonald@nih.gov.

Maximilian Nagel, Ph.D., Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

Max Nagel, Ph.D., is a visiting postdoc fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. He can be reached at max.nagel@nih.gov or 301-435-5517.

Caroline Pierotti, DIR Chesler Lab

Caroline Pierotti, Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Caroline Pierotti is a postbaccalaureate fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. She graduated from Oberlin College in 2022 with a major in neuroscience and minors in Hispanic studies and chemistry. Caroline is currently contributing to projects investigating the role of Piezo2 in proprioception and gentle touch. After completing her time at NIH, she plans to obtain a Ph.D. in neuroscience.

Jonathan Seaman Chesler Lab

Jonathan Seaman, B.S., M.Sc., Predoctoral Fellow

Jonathan Seaman, B.S., M.Sc., is a predoctoral fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits, as well as a graduate student through the Johns Hopkins Graduate Partnership Program. In 2018, Jonathan obtained a bachelor’s degree in physiology and neuroscience from the University of California San Diego. Jonathan completed his master’s degree in neuroscience in 2019 under Dr. Liam Browne; his work explored the effect of stimulating specific peripheral sensory populations to avoidance behaviors. In 2021, he joined the Chesler lab, where he is currently investigating the participation of thalamic populations in pain perception and behaviors. He is generally interested in how pain is encoded throughout the brain and how affective and spatial information is integrated. He can be reached at jonathan.seaman@nih.gov.

Marcin Szczot, Ph.D., Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

Marcin Szczot, Ph.D., is a visiting postdoc fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. He can be reached at marcin.szczot@nih.gov or 301-496-8129.

Lab Alumni

Maria Anaya, Postbac IRTA

Arnab Barik, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

Marek Brodzki, Special Volunteer

Colin Burnes, Postbac IRTA

Taylor Gordon, Postbac IRTA (2017-2018)

Eileen Nguyen, Postbac IRTA (2014-2016)

Alec Nickolls 2022 headshot

Alec Nickolls, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow

Alec Nickolls, Ph.D., was a postdoc fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. 

Jennifer Osborne, Post baccalaureate Fellow

Jennifer Osborne, B.S., was a post baccalaureate fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. 

Martin Rasmussen, Graduate Student

Mathew Seltzer, Postbac IRTA

Philina Yee, Postbac IRTA

Sarah Shnayder, B.S., Post baccalaureate Fellow

Sarah Shnayder, B.S., was a post baccalaureate fellow in the Section on Sensory Cells and Circuits. 

Publications

Full list of publications for Alexander Chesler, Ph.D., on PubMed.

Videos

NIH SciBites: The Body's "Sixth Sense"