Dr Mohammed A Nassar

School of Biosciences

University Teacher

Level 1 Tutor

m.nassar@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2392
Alfred Denny Building

Full contact details

Dr Mohammed A Nassar
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile

Brief career history

  • 2010-present: Lecturer, School of Biosciences, the University of Sheffield, UK.
  • 1999-2009: Senior postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Nociception Group, Dept. of Biology, UCL, UK.
  • 1998-99: Postdoctoral Fellow (Wellcome Prize Fellowship), Wellcome Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Dept. of Pharmacology, UCL, UK.
  • 1994-98: Postgraduate student (Wellcome Prize studentship), Wellcome Laboratory for Molecular Pharmacology, Dept. of Pharmacology, UCL, UK.
Research interests

My research is focused on primary sensory neurons which are part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Sensory neurons convey sensory information from both the internal (e.g. viscera, muscles and bones) and the external (skin) environments to the central nervous system (CNS).

Sensory neurons convey both innoxious and noxious stimuli. The latter is perceived in the CNA as pain. Inflammation and nerve injury sensitise sensory neurons which results in decreased pain thresholds.

My research interest lies in investigating the molecular changes in sensory neurons that are associated with pathological pain.

This is important in order to identify potential targets for new, effective and specific analgesic drugs. My lab uses a variety of methods based on molecular biology, cellular biology and functional assays.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Mohammed Z, Kaloyanova K & Nassar MA (2020) . PAIN, 161(5), 1100-1108.
  • Mohammed ZA, Doran C, Grundy D & Nassar MA (2017) . Scientific Reports, 7.
  • Denk F, Ramer LM, Erskine ELKS, Nassar MA, Bogdanov Y, Signore M, Wood JN, McMahon SB & Ramer MS (2015) . Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 3(1).
  • Doran C, Chetrit J, Holley MC, Grundy D & Nassar MA (2015) . PLOS ONE, 10(6).
  • Zhang Q, Chibalina MV, Bengtsson M, Groschner LN, Ramracheya R, Rorsman NJG, Leiss V, Nassar MA, Welling A, Gribble FM , Reimann F et al (2014) . The Journal of Physiology, 592(21), 4677-4696.
  • Minett MS, Falk S, Santana-Varela S, Bogdanov YD, Nassar MA, Heegaard A-M & Wood JN (2014) . Cell Rep, 6(2), 301-312.
  • Minett MS, Nassar MA, Clark AK, Passmore G, Dickenson AH, Wang F, Malcangio M & Wood JN (2012) . Nature Communications, 3.
  • Zhao J, Lee M-C, Momin A, Cendan C-M, Shepherd ST, Baker MD, Asante C, Bee L, Bethry A, Perkins JR , Nassar MA et al (2010) . J Neurosci, 30(32), 10860-10871.
  • Zhao J, Yuan G, Cendan CM, Nassar MA, Lagerström MC, Kullander K, Gavazzi I & Wood JN (2010) . Molecular Pain, 6.
  • Abrahamsen B, Zhao J, Asante CO, Cendan CM, Marsh S, Martinez-Barbera JP, Nassar MA, Dickenson AH & Wood JN (2008) . Science, 321(5889), 702-705.
  • Nassar MA, Baker MD, Levato A, Ingram R, Mallucci G, McMahon SB & Wood JN (2006) . Molecular Pain, 2.
  • Braz JM, Nassar MA, Wood JN & Basbaum AI (2005) . Neuron, 47(6), 787-793.
  • Nassar MA, Levato A, Stirling LC & Wood JN (2005) . Molecular Pain, 1.
  • Stirling CL, Forlani G, Baker MD, Wood JN, Matthews EA, Dickenson AH & Nassar MA (2005) . Pain, 113(1), 27-36.
  • Nassar MA, Stirling LC, Forlani G, Baker MD, Matthews EA, Dickenson AH & Wood JN (2004) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(34), 12706-12711.

All publications

Books

  • Wood JN, Abrahamsen B, Baker MD, Boorman JD, Donier E, Drew LJ, Nassar MA, Okuse K, Seereeram A, Stirling CL & Zhao J (2004) . Wiley.

Journal articles

  • Wood JN, Yan N, Huang J, Zhao J, Akopian A, Cox JJ, Woods CG & Nassar MA (2025) . Journal of General Physiology, 157(4).
  • Filfilan RM & Nassar M (2025) . Molecular Pain.
  • Baker MD & Nassar MA (2020) . Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology, 472, 865-880.
  • Mohammed Z, Kaloyanova K & Nassar MA (2020) . PAIN, 161(5), 1100-1108.
  • Tsantoulas C, Denk F, Signore M, Nassar MA, Futai K & McMahon SB (2018) . Pain, 159(8), 1641-1651.
  • Hoffmann T, Sharon O, Wittmann J, Carr RW, Vyshnevska A, De R, Nassar MA, Reeh PW & Weidner C (2018) . Pain, 159(3), 496-506.
  • Mohammed ZA, Doran C, Grundy D & Nassar MA (2017) . Scientific Reports, 7.
  • Hoffmann T, Kistner K, Carr RW, Nassar MA, Reeh PW & Weidner C (2017) . PAIN, 158(1), 58-67.
  • Nassar M, Christian Weidner , Peter W Reeh & Tal Hoffmann (2016) . Journal of Physiology, 594(19), 5529-5541.
  • Deuis J, Wingerd J, Winter Z, Durek T, Dekan Z, Sousa S, Zimmermann K, Hoffmann T, Weidner C, Nassar M , Alewood P et al (2016) . Toxins, 8(3), 78-78.
  • Denk F, Ramer LM, Erskine ELKS, Nassar MA, Bogdanov Y, Signore M, Wood JN, McMahon SB & Ramer MS (2015) . Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 3(1).
  • Doran C, Chetrit J, Holley MC, Grundy D & Nassar MA (2015) . PLOS ONE, 10(6).
  • Zhang Q, Chibalina MV, Bengtsson M, Groschner LN, Ramracheya R, Rorsman NJG, Leiss V, Nassar MA, Welling A, Gribble FM , Reimann F et al (2014) . The Journal of Physiology, 592(21), 4677-4696.
  • Hockley JRF, Boundouki G, Cibert-Goton V, McGuire C, Yip PK, Chan C, Tranter M, Wood JN, Nassar MA, Blackshaw LA , Aziz Q et al (2014) . Pain, 155(10), 1962-1975.
  • Minett MS, Falk S, Santana-Varela S, Bogdanov YD, Nassar MA, Heegaard A-M & Wood JN (2014) . Cell Rep, 6(2), 301-312.
  • Raouf R, Rugiero F, Kiesewetter H, Hatch R, Hummler E, Nassar MA, Wang F & Wood JN (2012) Sodium channels and mammalian sensory mechanotransduction. Molecular Pain, 8.
  • Subramanian N, Wetzel A, Dombert B, Yadav P, Havlicek S, Jablonka S, Nassar MA, Blum R & Sendtner M (2012) . Human Molecular Genetics, 21(16), 3655-3667.
  • Donovan J, Chetrit J, Collins VM, Braak B, Wouters MM, Nassar MA, Boeckxstaens GE & Grundy D (2012) . Gastroenterology, 142(5).
  • Minett MS, Nassar MA, Clark AK, Passmore G, Dickenson AH, Wang F, Malcangio M & Wood JN (2012) . Nature Communications, 3.
  • Gaveriaux-Ruff C, Nozaki C, Nadal X, Hever XC, Weibel R, Matifas A, Reiss D, Filliol D, Nassar MA, Wood JN , Maldonado R et al (2011) . PAIN, 152(6), 1238-1248.
  • Zhao J, Lee M-C, Momin A, Cendan C-M, Shepherd ST, Baker MD, Asante C, Bee L, Bethry A, Perkins JR , Nassar MA et al (2010) . J Neurosci, 30(32), 10860-10871.
  • Golden JP, Hoshi M, Nassar MA, Enomoto H, Wood JN, Milbrandt J, Gereau RW, Johnson EMJ & Jain S (2010) . JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 30(11), 3983-3994.
  • Eijkelkamp N, Heijnen CJ, Willemen HLDM, Deumens R, Joosten EAJ, Kleibeuker W, den Hartog IJM, van Velthoven CTJ, Nijboer C, Nassar MA , Dorn GWII et al (2010) . JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 30(6), 2138-2149.
  • Zhao J, Yuan G, Cendan CM, Nassar MA, Lagerström MC, Kullander K, Gavazzi I & Wood JN (2010) . Molecular Pain, 6.
  • Chen PE, Errington ML, Kneussel M, Chen G, Annala AJ, Rudhard YH, Rast GF, Specht CG, Tigaret CM, Nassar MA , Morris RGM et al (2009) . LEARNING & MEMORY, 16(10), 635-644.
  • Fricker FR, Zhu N, Tsantoulas C, Abrahamsen B, Nassar MA, Thakur M, Garratt AN, Birchmeier C, McMahon SB, Wood JN & Bennett DLH (2009) . JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, 29(24), 7667-7678.
  • Fricker FR, Zhu N, Abrahamsen B, Nassar MA, Thakur M, Garratt AN, Birchmeier C, McMahon SB, Wood JN & Bennett DLH (2009) SENSORY AXON-DERIVED NEUREGULIN-1 IS REQUIRED FOR AXOGLIAL SIGNALLING AND NORMAL SENSORY FUNCTION BUT NOT FOR LONG TERM AXON MAINTENANCE. JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, 14, 51-51.
  • Abrahamsen B, Zhao J, Asante CO, Cendan CM, Marsh S, Martinez-Barbera JP, Nassar MA, Dickenson AH & Wood JN (2008) . Science, 321(5889), 702-705.
  • Ostman JAR, Nassar MA, Wood JN & Baker MD (2008) . JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, 586(4), 1077-1087.
  • Nassar MA, Baker MD, Levato A, Ingram R, Mallucci G, McMahon SB & Wood JN (2006) . Molecular Pain, 2.
  • Foulkes T, Nassar MA, Lane T, Matthews EA, Baker MD, Gerke V, Okuse K, Dickenson AH & Wood JN (2006) . The Journal of Neuroscience, 26(41), 10499-10507.
  • Zhao J, Nassar MA, Gavazzi I & Wood JN (2006) . genesis, 44(8), 364-371.
  • Zhao J, Seereeram A, Nassar MA, Levato A, Pezet S, Hathaway G, Morenilla-Palao C, Stirling C, Fitzgerald M, McMahon SB , Rios M et al (2006) . Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, 31(3), 539-548.
  • Braz JM, Nassar MA, Wood JN & Basbaum AI (2005) . Neuron, 47(6), 787-793.
  • Nassar MA, Levato A, Stirling LC & Wood JN (2005) . Molecular Pain, 1.
  • Stirling CL, Forlani G, Baker MD, Wood JN, Matthews EA, Dickenson AH & Nassar MA (2005) . Pain, 113(1), 27-36.
  • Nassar MA, Stirling LC, Forlani G, Baker MD, Matthews EA, Dickenson AH & Wood JN (2004) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(34), 12706-12711.
  • Rudhard Y, Kneussel M, Nassar MA, Rast GF, Annala AJ, Chen PE, Tigaret CM, Dean I, Roes J, Gibb AJ , Hunt SP et al (2003) . The Journal of Neuroscience, 23(6), 2323-2332.
  • Wood JN, Akopian AN, Baker M, Ding Y, Geoghegan F, Nassar M, Malik‐Hall M, Okuse K, Poon L, Ravenall S , Sukumaran M et al (2001) , 159-172.
  • Sivilotti LG, McNeil DK, Lewis TM, Nassar MA, Schoepfer R & Colquhoun D (1997) . The Journal of Physiology, 500(1), 123-138.
  • (1996) . Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 263(1373), 1079-1086.
  • Bo X, Zhang Y, Nassar M, Burnstock G & Schoepfer R (1995) . FEBS Letters, 375(1-2), 129-133.
  • (1995) . Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 262(1364), 205-213.

Conference proceedings

  • Donovan J, Chetrit J, Collins VM, Braak B, Wouters MM, Nassar MA, Boeckxstaens GE & Grundy D (2012) The Effect of Human Supernatants From IBS Patients on Neuronal Excitability and Sodium Channel Trafficking. GASTROENTEROLOGY, Vol. 142(5) (pp S702-S703)
Research group

Postgraduate studentship opportunities

Project 1: Investigation of changes in the excitability of pain neurons in diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which a person’s homeostatic mechanism to control blood sugar level is compromised, resulting in an inability to produce insulin and reduce sugar level. The incidence of diabetes is increasing worldwide, and peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common complications.

Diabetic neuropathy causes extreme pain. The cause of this is thought to be from microvascular injury of the vasa nervorum, the blood vessels which supply nerves. The resulting neuronal damage is thought to affect nociceptor excitability and make them more likely to respond to stimuli. We are interested in characterising diabetes-induced changes in nociceptor excitability.

Our research is currently focusing on the pain neurones of the db/db knockout mouse model.

Project 2: Drug screening for effective and safe reduction of the excitability of pain neurons

Our aim is to identify novel compounds, or a combination of existing compounds, that produce the biggest reduction in the excitability of pain neurons with a minimal effect on non-nociceptors. By targeting only nociceptor activity, this should produce effective analgesia in vivo, with minimal side effects.

The initial step of this process is to screen candidate compounds on cultured primary mouse DRG neurons. Only those which produce the desired effect are taken for further investigation.

References

  • Mohammed, Z.A., et al., Veratridine produces distinct calcium response profiles in mouse Dorsal Root Ganglia neurons. Sci. Rep, 2017. 7: p. 45221.
  • Mohammed, Z., K. Kaloyanova, and M.A. Nassar, An unbiased and efficient assessment of excitability of sensory neurons for analgesic drug discovery. Pain, 2020.
Teaching activities

Teaching experience

  • 2015: Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching from the University of Sheffield (Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, FHEA)

Undergraduate

  • BMS109 Cell & Molecular
  • BMS109 Practical Classes
  • BMS110 Research Topics in Biomedicine
  • BMS303 Molecular Physiology of Ion Channels
  • BMS319 Pharmacological Techniques
  • Level 3 Practical and Dissertation Modules

Masters (MSc)

  • BMS6084 Pharmacological Techniques
Professional activities and memberships

Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching from the University of Sheffield (Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, FHEA)

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