James Giordano, Ph.D. Research Interests 1. Medical Philosophy and Bioethics. Of interest are the philosophical bases of the disease-illness continuum of chronic pain, the neuroethics of suffering and the phenomenal 'self', and the development of ethical frameworks for research and practice in pain medicine, palliative care, psychiatry and neurology. 2. Basic and clinical parameters of neural responses to pain. These studies are examining central and peripheral neural and endocrine mechanisms operative in reaction to pain and stress. These investigations are aimed at understanding the interactive role of the neurochemical, hormonal and metabolic systems affecting diverse responses (e.g.- analgesia, "placebo" effects, states of consciousness) in order to develop enhanced methods of translational research and improve interdisciplinary clinical interventions. 3. Role of the serotonin (5-HT3) receptor system in pain and analgesia. We have shown that peripheral and central (5-HT3) receptors differentially mediate components of the nociceptive response produced by inflammation. Of current interest is the development of a theoretical model of pain based upon non-linear, dynamical complex systems' effects and neural mechanisms and substrates of this system relevant to clinical practice. 4. Development, implementation and application of integrative medical approaches aimed at elucidating outcomes and mechanisms relevant to the public health model. Particular emphasis is placed upon utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods to study systems that may be engaged through specific integrative medical interventions to evoke physiologic processes with potential therapeutic benefit(s).
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James Giordano, Ph.D. © 2005, All rights reserved.