The Inserm U929 'Neurobiology of trigeminal pain' is a research laboratory under the dual supervision of Inserm and the University of Clermont 1. Created in 2002, it has since been renewed in 2004 and 2008.
The Inserm U929 is part of the Faculty of Dentistry (University of Auvergne-Clermont 1). It is one of the very few Inserm laboratories in France within a Faculty of Dentistry, and one of the very few in Europe dedicated to both biological and medical research on cephalic pain; thanks to its staff gathering clinicians - dentists, anaesthetists, neurologists and psychologists - as well as neuroscientists, and its research facilities with, among other techniques, a complete electrophysiological platform to record from single as well as population neurons, both in vivo and in vitro.

Our laboratory works on the neurobiology of trigeminal pain. There are many chronic trigeminal pain syndromes, some of which, such as the trigeminal neuralgia, migraine and idiopathic orofacial pain, are specific of this region. The physiopathology of these disorders is poorly known.
During the last few years, our team has been involved in identifying the trigeminal neuronal network conveying, after synaptic processing, the sensory inflow generated by the nociceptor fibers innervating the face and meninges to higher brain centers. For instance, we showed that pain is relayed in the trigeminal system via two trigeminal spinal subnuclei, the oralis and caudalis subnuclei. This unique system thus appears to be particularly suitable for studying the dorsal horn processing of nociceptive information. Moreover, we recently provided evidence for a new mechanism underlying the dynamic mechanical allodynia. This key symptom of (trigeminal) neuropathic pain is produced by disrupting selectively the glycinergic inhibition. Thus glycine inhibitory dysfunction appears to gate tactile input to superficial dorsal horn nociceptive specific neurons through protein kinase C gamma (PKCy)-dependent activation of a local excitatory dorsal horn circuit.

In line with our basic and clinical research commitments, we have four independent research goals:
1. Overall frequency of symptoms and signs of trigeminal neuropathic pain syndromes;
2. Factors underlying the transition from unrelieved acute to chronic pain (i.e. neuroplasticity);
3. Thalamo-cortical neuronal plasticity and the emotional component of pain;
4. Molecular and cellular mechanisms triggering the pathological dysfunction of modulatory and inhibitory control systems on nociception (glia; glycine; GABA; protein kinases; autonomic nervous system; …)

Every scientific question is systematically addressed using several of the most advanced, modern techniques available in neurosciences.
There are two set-ups for in vivo recordings using either the (1) single- and multi unit, multi-site (Dr L Monconduit) or the (2) field potential recording technique. J.L. Molat is involved in both setting-up the required informatic and recording systems and conducting the experiments. This is also a set-up for intra-cellular (patch-clamp, whole-cell configuration) recording in in vitro brain slices (Pr A Artola). We have also a complete immunohistochemistry and molecular biology platform (Dr A Hafidi). Finally, we can also analyse animal behavior (using video) and the cardiovascular responses (heart rate and blood pressure using radiotelemetry of behaving animals (Pr. P Luccarini).

Our clinical research involves four departments in hospital centers: the 'Orofacial Pain' consultation (Dr. P. Pionchon, Dr. C. Gremeau-Richard), the 'Neuropathic pain and Migraine' consultation (Pr. P. Clavelou, Dr. M. Lantéri-minet), the Oral Surgery Department (Pr. M. Baudet-Pommel) and the Clinical Research Center in the university hospital center of Clermont-Ferrand.

We recently started and currently coordinate the French Pain Research Network (FPRN). FPRN's mission is to advance the understanding of pain by bringing together French scientists and physicians of diverse backgrounds, by facilitating the integration of research directed at all levels of biological organization, and by encouraging translational research and the application of new scientific knowledge to develop improved pain treatments and cures. The FPRN also aims at facilitating internationally competitive research in pain as well as associating the FPRN with other European pain research network. Initiated in 2002, the FPRN has rapidly grown up and it now involves 31 teams - coming from both public research organizations (Inserm, CNRS, INRA, Universities) and drug companies - and more than 375 people - scientist, clinicians, technicians and students.
We have developed effective strategic relationships and collaborative initiatives with local as well as national and international research teams (Belgium, Canada, United-Kingdom, Switzerland, Tunisia).

With other laboratories of our university (Clermont1), we are strongly involved in promoting the quality of education of students about research and treatment of pain. We have provided educational resources for students at all stages of their cursus including …, master and PhD students and post-docs.
Regarding pain treatment, our laboratory contributes to teaching (i) residents in Dentistry and in Medecin, (ii) the capacity " Evaluation et treatment of pain " , (iii) the DIU "Formation of physicians to control pain" and (iv) a module "Orofacial pain" for the clinical education of students in Dentistry, thanks to specialized consultations.

In keeping with our research excellence commitment, we aim at developing biological as well as clinical research, promoting education and speeding up application of new scientific knowledge to develop improved pain treatments.