{"id":1971,"date":"2024-07-11T13:00:55","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T20:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?p=1971"},"modified":"2024-09-17T11:14:56","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T18:14:56","slug":"what-if-we-could-end-migraine-suffering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/what-if-we-could-end-migraine-suffering\/","title":{"rendered":"What If…
We Could End Migraine Suffering?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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What If…
We Could End Migraine Suffering?<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n July 11, 2024<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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The Problem<\/h2>\n

About 10% of the world\u2019s population gets migraines \u2014 including some 47 million Americans. These severe headaches, often accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity, can last for days. Some treatments exist, but they don\u2019t work for every patient and research into better medications traditionally hasn\u2019t been well funded.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Hypothesis<\/h2>\n

David McKemy<\/a>, professor of biological sciences<\/a>, thinks one solution might lie in a protein called TRPM8<\/a>. He recently discovered that the protein, which is crucial to cold detection, also plays a role in headaches. Could inhibiting TRPM8, thereby interfering with its function, stave off migraines?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Research<\/h2>\n

McKemy conducted experiments where he administered headache-inducing agents \u2014 nitroglycerin and a peptide known as CGRP \u2014 to mice genetically engineered without the TRPM8 protein. Remarkably, these mice showed no signs of migraine-like pain. Additionally, McKemy discovered that inhibiting the function of this protein pharmacologically in normal mice prevented the pain associated with headaches.<\/p>\n

McKemy\u2019s research reveals that TRPM8 could be a promising target for new drugs aimed at treating migraines. He is now advancing his research on a potential cure, with a forthcoming study looking at the genetic factors that contribute to migraine susceptibility.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Conclusion\u00a0 <\/h2>\n

Migraine relief could be closer than we think, thanks to McKemy and to Arnold and Roberta \u201cBobbi\u201d Mahler \u201966<\/a>. The Mahlers recently donated $2 million to USC Dornsife to accelerate migraine research like that being done by McKemy. The gift was made in honor of the couple\u2019s daughter, a life-long migraine patient. \u201cWe want help for migraine sufferers sooner, better, faster,\u201d says Bobbi Mahler.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n