The Foundation Prize was awarded to Professor Pierrick Poisbeau,doctor in neuroscience & professor at the University of Strasbourg, where he heads the team entitled ‘Life Adversity and Pain’ within the Laboratory of Cognitive and Adaptive Neuroscience.
For over thirty years, his research has been exclusively devoted to elucidating the neurobiological mechanisms that control the sensation of pain and to developing innovative analgesic treatments. His top-level expertise in in vitro electrophysiological techniques first led him to elucidate the mechanisms of analgesic action of various endogenous compounds. A second remarkable step in his preclinical research was the demonstration of the ability of one of these compounds, oxytocin, to prevent the sensitising effects of a stressful situation from birth (maternal separation) on nociceptive stimuli in adult rats. These major discoveries have now led him to set up a highly original clinical research programme aimed at identifying the epigenetic signatures induced by neonatal stress (in particular premature babies who undergo major medical procedures and a deterioration in the mother-child bond) likely to lead to subsequent child bonding) that may later lead to lifelong painful hypersensitivity. These signatures are potential new biomarkers of this risk, and monitoring them could make it possible to objectivise the effectiveness of innovative procedures to reduce this risk and restore normal nociceptive sensitivity.
In awarding its prize to P. Poisbeau, the Unité Guerra Foundation is proud to recognise a researcher of the highest calibre who is leading the way in the development of new treatments for nociceptive pain. who is conducting both particularly innovative translational research with a clinical focus and exemplary and exemplary action to promote research into pain, not only in our own country but also within the but also within the European Union.
