Elie D. Al-Chaer: Curriculum Vitae

A multilingual professional and a very quick mind with an insider's perspective and proven leadership in higher education, science, health care and related laws. Outstanding organizational and writing skills, with high-impact executive presentation abilities. A demonstrated talent to select, train and retain self-motivated goal-oriented professionals. Well published and recipient of numerous awards and recognitions in Medicine, Biomedical Research, Academic Leadership and Law. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with an extensive background in the following:

Biomedical Research                                             Legal Counsel
Nervous & Digestive Systems                               Conflict Resolution
Clinical & Translational Sciences                          Strategic Planning
Budget & Resources Management                        Visioning & Persuasion
Curriculum Innovation & Integration                   High-caliber Negotiation
Personnel Hiring, Development & Promotion       Policy, Regulations & Ethics

➢ A diverse educational and cultural background with a unique ability to understand and manage sensitivities when communicating and discussing with individuals and groups with different philosophies, cultural backgrounds, perspectives, approaches, and specific needs.
➢ Outstanding qualifications in strategic planning with comprehensive knowledge of governance, management, organizational development, team building and project execution: successfully led the strategic planning effort for a twenty million dollar Translational Research Institute and served as its Director of Planning and co-Director of Governance.
➢ Commanding oral presentation ability with a record number of invited speeches delivered to diverse audiences around the world.
➢ Outstanding interpersonal and negotiation skills and experience in dealing with conflicts, negotiations and conflict resolution.
➢ Solid track record of cultivating productive relationships with key decision makers and managing projects on a global basis to achieve institutional goals.
➢ Well-respected high profile in the sciences of the nervous and digestive systems: serving currently on a number of national and international scientific and health advisory boards and editorial boards, and a regularly invited speaker to scientific symposia.
➢ High impact biomedical research in the fields of Neuroscience and Digestive Diseases: designed, implemented and tested validated models of disease, widely used in translational and pre-clinical trials.
➢ Proven record of fundraising with an outstanding record of research funding from the National Institutes of Health in the USA, private non-governmental organizations and the pharmaceutical industry.
➢ Legal advisor on issues including business planning, intellectual property, conflict resolution, health care and business law for a number of businesses, professionals and individuals including medical practitioners, real estate developers, immigration applicants and others.
➢ Works independently and as a team player depending on the situation.

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Electronic Address:

Biographical

After finishing High School at the “Collège des Frères, Mont La Salle” (a Private French Catholic School) Aïn Saadé, Lebanon,

1985-1988: Undergraduate student, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut (AUB), New York Universities Board, Beirut, Lebanon

1989-1991: Graduate student, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, New York Universities Board, Beirut, Lebanon

1993-1996: Ph.D. student, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA

Degrees and Certificates

B.S. (May 1988) Mathematics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, New York Universities Board, Beirut, Lebanon

M.S. (Aug. 1991) Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, New York Universities Board, Beirut, Lebanon (see CV-34)

Ph.D. (Dec. 1996) Neuroscience, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA (see CV-34)

J. D. (May 2002) Doctor of Jurisprudence, South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas, USA

Certificate International Policy and Foreign Affairs Course, Clinton School of Public Service, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA (Jul. 2005)

Certificate Leadership Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA (Jan. – Dec. 2007)

2015 - Professor and Chairperson, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon.

2013 - 2015 Professor and Vice-Chair, Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon.

2009 - 2013 Professor with tenure, Departments of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology), Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, USA.

2007 (July) - 09 Secondary appointment - Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, College of Medicine, UAMS.

2004 (Sep) - 09 Associate Professor (Tenure Track), Departments of Pediatrics, and Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, UAMS.

1999 (Jan.) - 04 Associate member, Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX, USA.

1999 (Jan.) - 04 Associate member, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UTMB.

1998 (Feb.) - 04 Assistant Professor (tenure track), Departments of Internal Medicine and Anatomy and Neurosciences; UTMB.

1992 Instructor of “Biomechanics of Human Motion” at the Department of Orthopedics and Orthotics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon.

1988 - 89 Instructor of Mathematics for intermediate classes at a private high school, Lebanon.

Teaching Responsibilities / Experience

2015 - Chairman, MED-II Class Teaching Committee, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

2015 - Member, Curriculum Committee, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

2015 - Member, Student Affairs Committee, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.

2014 - Lecturer and Lead Consultant, The Ethics and Laws of Health Care course, Medical Professionalism Program, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (Hybrid: online & classroom).

2014 - Lecturer and co-Coordinator, Integrated Medical Neuroscience course, MED II, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (Fall, 11 contact weeks).

2013 - Lecturer, Cellular and Molecular Basis of Medicine, MED I, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (Fall, 4 contact hours).

2013 - Lecturer on Ethics of Anatomy, Physicians - Patients and Society course, MED I, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (Fall, 4 contact hours).

2005 - 2013 Lecturer, Neuroscience Course, MED I, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. (April, 1 contact hour).

2003 - 2004 Lecturer and Laboratory teacher, Human Neuroscience and Behavior Course, MED I, Integrated Medical Curriculum, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA. (Spring Term, 50 contact hours)

2000 - 2001 Lecturer, lecture on “Visceral Pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome” GI and Nutrition Course, MED II, Integrated Medical Curriculum, School of Medicine, UTMB. (Fall Term, 2 contact hours)

1999 - 2002 Facilitator, Human Neuroscience and Behavior Course, MED I, Integrated Medical Curriculum, School of Medicine, UTMB. (Spring Term, 50 contact hours per year)

1999 Laboratory instructor, Human Neuroscience and Behavior Course, MED I, Integrated Medical Curriculum, School of Medicine, UTMB. (Spring Term, 50 contact hours)

1995 Teaching Assistant of Neuroscience, First Year Medical School (MED I), Faculty of Medicine, UTMB.

B. Graduate School

2013 - Lecturer, General Physiology-Cellular Mechanisms course, Graduate Students, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon (Fall, 4 contact hours).

2007 - 2013 Lecturer, Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience, Graduate School, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR. Two lectures: “Neuroscience of Pain: Mechanisms and Pathways & Syndromes and Modulation” (Spring Term, 3 contact hours)

2006 - 2013 Lecturer, Graduate Neuroscience Course, Graduate School, UAMS. One lecture: “Pain” (Fall Term, 1 contact hour)

2006 - 2013 Lecturer, Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience, Graduate School, UAMS. Two lectures: “Release of Neurotransmitters” and “Neurotransmitter Receptors” (Spring Term, 3 contact hours)

I prepare the lectures and present them to the graduate students taking the Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience Course and the Graduate Neuroscience Course.

2000 - 2004 Course Director and Lecturer, Core Pain Conference (NEUX 6000-013), Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA. (Fall Term, 20 contact hours)

I oversee the admission process, organize and outline the curriculum, invite the participating faculty and monitor the progress and evaluate the conference.

C. Other

2003 (May) Invited chair and speaker, Professional Symposium on “Central sensitization in visceral pain” – Digestive Disease Week 2003, Title of talk: “Animal models of central sensitization in visceral pain” Orlando, Fl, USA.

2003 (Mar.) Speaker, Professional Development Course “Stress and the Gut”, British Society of Gastroenterology, Birmingham, UK.

2000 (Nov.) Moderator and Speaker, Professional Development Course on the Management and Pathophysiology of Visceral Pain, American Pain Society, 19^th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA.

1992 Instructor of “Biomechanics of Human Motion” at the Department of Orthopedics and Orthotics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon.

Current Research / Funding

A. Active Research Projects:

1. Impact of neonatal pain or injury on neural development and adult physiology and behavior.

4. The role of glial cells in the neuronal sensitization and associated behaviors.

Translating these findings into clinical application is done through collaboration with clinicians and pharmaceutical companies:

5. Effect of Allergan drugs on symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in rats – in collaboration with Allergan, Inc, Irvine, CA.

6. Validation of an animal model of irritable bowel syndrome – in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Harlow, UK (completed).

Funding for these projects comes from the National Institutes of Health in the USA or from interested pharmaceutical companies (see funding below).

B. Trainees and Visiting Scientists

Current:

2008- Krishnapraveen Yadlapalli (DVM, MS), Research Technician, UAMS (Dr. Yadlapalli is a patch clamp neurophysiologist)

2004- Chunping Gu, (MD, PhD), Research Associate, UAMS (Dr. Gu is a molecular biologist)

2003- Jing Wang, (MD PhD), Visiting Scholar, UTMB, UAMS (Dr. Wang is a neurophysiologist, she joined the faculty in Pediatrics in 2009)

C. Grant Support

In this study, we propose to identify the hormonal basis of the observed sexual dimorphism in visceral pain as well as the underlying physiological mechanisms. The central hypothesis is that sex hormones play a crucial role in the sex-specific differences in visceral pain possibly via their action on pain pathways in the central nervous system. Sex hormones modulate visceral sensitivity and central neural sensitization via direct action on estrogen receptors located on PSDC neurons or regulation of glutamate receptors located on these neurons. Defining the physiological and cellular mechanisms that contribute to sexual differentiation in persistent visceral hypersensitivity is of central importance to advancing our understanding of visceral hypersensitivity and to fostering a new approach to gastrointestinal disorders that leads to the development of new, gender-sensitive, therapeutic tools for the management of chronic visceral pain.

In this proposal we hypothesize that hyperactive microglia contribute to chronic VH and neuronal hyperexcitability in the spinal cord. First, we propose to establish a correlation between VH and a hyperactive phenotype of microglia in rats with CI by identifying molecular targets selective for hyperactive microglia, and second, we propose to reverse neuronal hyperexcitability and chronic VH by suppressing microglial activation using minocycline or by selectively blocking phosphorylated-p38 and P2X4 receptors, two targets specifically expressed on hyperactive microglia. These studies will help expand the targets of pharmacological intervention to non-neuronal sites within the spinal cord, and improve the analgesic potency of biologic therapies, while minimizing undesirable side effects.

“Alpha2-adrenoceptors modulate TRPV4 and reduce inflammation-induced visceral pain”

Leadership / Executive Functions

National / International:

2010 Member, NIH Grant Application Study Section: Somatosensory and Chemosensory Science (Pain); SCS.

2009 Panelist on Brain-Gut Communications, Shaping the Future of Enteric Neurosciences, Strategic Planning Forum, Chicago, IL, USA.

2009 - Member, the National Steering Committee for the CTSA (Clinical and Translational Science Awards) Consortium, NIH, USA.

2009 (Mar) Panelist on Chronic Pain, National Women's Health Conference, Strategic Planning Forum, the NIH Office of Research in Women's Health, St. Louis, MO, USA.

2008 Co-Chair, NIH Special Emphasis Panel on Multi-disciplinary Approaches to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network (U01 grants).

2008 Chair, American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Research Forum on Animal Models of Functional and Motility Disorders. Digestive Diseases Week, San Diego, CA, May 2008.

2007-08 Chair, AGA abstract review committee on Animal Models of Functional and Motility Disorders for the Digestive Disease Week (DDW), the annual meeting for digestive diseases societies in the USA with an international membership.

2007- Member, NIH Special Emphasis Panel to review Specialized Centers of Interdisciplinary Research (SCOR) on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women’s Health (ZRG1 HOP-U).

2007- Member, NIH Grant Application Review Council: Neural Sciences and Disorders (NSD-C).

2005- Member, Advisory Board, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

2004 Chair, NIH Special Council on Mind-Body Interactions and Health (ZRG1 RPHB-B 50 R).

2003 Member, NIH Special Emphasis Panel on Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, a special study section to evaluate grant applications for the “Mind-Body Interactions and Health: Research Infrastructure Program”.

2003-05 Member, NIH Grant Application Study Section: Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters (ZRG1 CNNT-01) / Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience (ZRG1 BDCN2).

2003- Invited member and co-author, Rome III Multinational Team on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Policy: a team of distinguished scientists and clinicians from around the world that meets every 10 years to shape the clinical and research policy of functional disorders for the next decade (Membership by invitation only).

2001-03 Chair, American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) abstract review committee on Colonic Motility and Disorders for the Digestive Disease Week (DDW), the annual meeting for all digestive diseases societies in the USA with an international membership.

1999 - Ad-hoc reviewer for the following journals: Neuroscience, J. Neuroscience, J. Neurophysiology, Brain Research, Experimental Brain Research, Pain, J. Pain, European J. Pain, Gastroenterology, Neuro-gastroenterology (since 2003), GUT (since 2003).

Ad-hoc reviewer for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Veterans Administration Health System (VAHS), the National Student Research Forum (NSRF) and a number of international scientific and funding organizations (British, Czech, Chinese, Japanese, etc.).

2009- Associate-Director for Governance: Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR), funded by NIH (NCRR) through a CTSA.

2007-2009 Co-Director of Governance: CCTR (Title changed in ‘09 with NIH funding)

2004 Chair, Examination Committee, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Review and evaluate hundreds of medical school applications and interview and rank hundreds of applicants every year.

2001-04 Member, Examination Committee, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Oversee the Neuroscience Graduate Program Qualifying Exam, by evaluating the questions, the corrections and the grading.

2000-03 Member, Grant Review Committee, the Gastrointestinal Research Interdisciplinary Program (GRIP)

2005 - Member, Mentoring Committee, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, USA.

2005 - Member, Graduate Advisory Committee, Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, College of Medicine, UAMS.

2000 - 2003 Chair, Postgraduate Pain Program Sub-Committee, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX, USA.

Objectives: Provide an interactive educational forum for scientists and clinicians interested in Pain management and Research.

1999 - 2002 Coordinator, Seminar Program for the Division of Gastroenterology, UTMB

1999 - 2004 Member, Program Project Grant Committee, Pain Group, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, UTMB

1998 - 2002 Webmaster of GI Web, The website development team for the Division of Gastroenterology, UTMB. http://www2.utmb.edu/gastroenterology

I mentored, co-mentored and served on the graduate exam committee of the following students:

Thesis Title: “Effects of Ketamine on Apoptosis and Neurogenesis of Rat Fetal Cortical Neural Stem / Progenitor Cells (NSPCs)”

Thesis Title: “Cholinergic Modulation of Fast Synaptic Transmission in the Pedunculopontine and Parafascicular Nuclei: Implications for the Regulation of Cortical Arousal”

Thesis Title: Analgesic Effect of Paeoniflorin in Rats with Visceral Hyperalgesia Induced by Neonatal Maternal Separation

Thesis Title: “Chronic Low Back Pain: Arousal, Attention, and Frontal Lobe Blood Flow Dysfunctions”

Thesis Title: “Transplant therapy and cellular mechanisms contributing to chronic pain after spinal cord injury.”

Co-Mentored Publications:

1) Saab C.Y., Kawasaki M., Al-Chaer E.D. and Willis, W.D. Cerebellar cortical stimulation increases spinal visceral nociceptive responses. J. Neurophysiol. 85(6): 2359-2363, 2001

2) Saab, C.Y., Kawasaki M., Masaad, C.A., Saadé, N.E., Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis W.D. Is the cerebellum involved in analgesia or Pain? Society for Neuroscience, 2000

3) Saab C.Y., Kawasaki M, Al-Chaer E.D. and Willis W.D. Cerebellar modulation of spinal nociceptive responses: Can pain be influenced from the cerebellum? American Pain society, 19th Annual Scientific Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2-5, 2000

Societies and Affiliations

2002 - 04 Chair, American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) committee on Colonic Motility and Disorders.

Licensure Information

2006 (Feb. 3) – Washington DC Bar, Licensed attorney by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to practice in all the courts of the District of Columbia.

2002 (Nov. 6) – State Bar of Texas, Licensed attorney and counselor at law by the Supreme Court of Texas to practice in all courts of the State of Texas.

2009 Plenary speaker, The Institute of Chinese Medicine Forum on Irritable bowel syndrome: “When East Meets West”, Title of talk: “Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Tale of Sex, Drugs and Pain” The Golden Egg Auditorium, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.

2006 Plenary speaker at the joint conference of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), Title of talk: “Neuroplasticity in visceral pain”, Cambridge, UK.

2003 Plenary speaker, professional development course, the British Society of Gastroenterology

2003 Plenary speaker, Spring Brain Conference, Title of talk: “The role of the dorsal columns in pain states” Sedona, AZ, USA.

2002 Invited speaker on “The art and science of visceral pain: from neonatal plasticity to adult perception” the Pain Research Center, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

2002 Invited to evaluate a $7.5 Million Program Project Grant and to speak on“Plasticity of visceral pain circuitry in adult rats with neonatal colon injury”, Pain Program, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, MD, USA.

2000 The John C. Liebeskind Early Career Scholar Award, for exceptional accomplishment and promise in pain scholarship, American Pain Society

1999 Outstanding Educator Award, Generalist Physician Investigator Program, UTMB

1997 The Stephen C. Silverthorne Memorial Award for outstanding research in neurology

1996 The Mustard Seed Award in Research for outstanding research and service in cancer pain, offered by the Sealy Society

1990 Diana Tamari Sabbagh (DTS) Award for outstanding researchers in medical sciences

2001 Phi Beta Phi, International Legal Fraternity, Highest Grade award In International Law.

B. Professional Consultant

2005- Member, Advisory Board, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), USA.

2004- Member, Visceral Pain Advisory Board, Allergan Inc, Irvine, CA, USA

2003-04 Strategic consultant, Governing Board, Sigma Health Care, Inc. Galveston, TX, USA.

2003- Member, Pain Advisory Board, Allergan Inc, Irvine, CA, USA

2000-04 Member, Professional Advisory Committee, Sigma Health Care, Inc. Galveston, TX, USA.

1999- Biomedical research professional consultant, Allergan Inc, Irvine CA, USA

C. Invited Lectures

2010 (Jan) Invited speaker, Perinatal Research Rounds, The University of Chicago – Pritzker School of Medicine and the NorthShore University Health System, Title of rounds: “Visceral Pain: Insights from the Platonic Fold” Evanston, IL, USA.

2010 (Jan) Invited speaker, Medicine and Obstetrics Gynecology Grand Rounds, The University of Chicago – Pritzker School of Medicine and the NorthShore University Health System, Title of grand rounds: “Pain the Paradox of Scientific Advances and Clinical Retreats” Chicago, IL, USA.

2010 (Jan) Invited speaker, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University, Title of talk: “Age, Pain and Neuroplasticity: Scientific Constructs and Outcome Realities” Columbus, OH, USA.

2009 (Oct) Keynote speaker, Arkansas Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, Title of talk: “Neuroplasticity in Animal Models of Pain” Little Rock, AR, USA.

2009 (July) Invited seminar, Eli Lilly and Company Pain and Migraine Drug Hunting Team, Title of seminar: “Visceral Pain: Insights from the Platonic Fold” Indianapolis, IN, USA.

2009 (Apr) Invited workshop, the 8^th International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Title of workshop: “Pain Pathways” Milwaukee, WI, USA.

2009 (Mar) Invited plenary speaker, The Institute of Chinese Medicine Forum on Irritable Bowel Syndrome: “When East Meets West”, Title of Talk: “Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Tale of Sex, Drugs and Pain” Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong.

2008 (Oct) Invited speaker, Department of Medicine, State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, Title of Talk: “Functional Abdominal Pain: a Gut Feeling in the Brain”, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

2008 (Apr) Invited speaker, Rural Hospital Program, Title of Talk: “Pain: a Primer on Neural Mechanisms and Management” (satellite broadcast) Little Rock, AR, USA.

2007 (Apr) Invited plenary speaker, the 6^th International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Title of Talk: “Neuroplasticity and Functional Pain” Milwaukee, WI, USA.

2007 (Apr) Invited workshop, the 6^th International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Title of workshop: “Pain Pathways” Milwaukee, WI, USA.

2006 (Oct) Distinguished lecture, the Oklahoma Center for Neuroscience and the Department of Physiology, Oklahoma University Health Science Center. Title of talk: “Visceral Pain: Reflections on Phylogeny, Physiology and Pathways”, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.

2006 (Sep) Invited Speaker, Queen Mary, University of London and The Royal London Hospital, Title of Talk: “Visceral Pain: The Rhapsody of a Nervous System”, invited speaker, London, England, UK.

2006 (Sep) Plenary lecture, the joint conference of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and the British Society for Gastroenterology. Title of talk: “Neuroplasticity in Visceral Pain”, Cambridge University, England, UK.

2006 (Jul) Plenary lecture, the Brain-Gut Symposium held at St. Anne’s College, Oxford University. Title of talk: “Animals Models of Visceral Pain”, Oxford, England, UK.

2005 (June) Invited Speaker, The University of Florida Comprehensive Center for Pain Research and the College of Dentistry Dean’s Seminar Series, Title of talk: “Functional Pain: the Rhapsody of a Nervous System” The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.

2005 (Apr) Invited plenary speaker, the 6^th International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Title of Talk: “Neuroplasticity and Functional Pain” Milwaukee, WI, USA.

2005 (Apr) Invited workshop, the 6^th International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Title of workshop: “Pain Pathways” Milwaukee, WI, USA.

2005 (Mar) Invited Physiology Seminar, Title of talk: “Behavioral and Neural Changes in Adult Rats Exposed to Neonatal Colon Injury” Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, UAMS.

2005 (Feb) Invited Neurology Grand Rounds, Title of talk: “Pain: Reflections on Phylogeny, Physiology and Pathways” Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, UAMS

2005 (Feb) Seminar, “Pain: the Rhapsody of a Nervous System” Pain Arkansas Club, UAMS.

2005 (Jan) Invited Neurosurgery Grand Rounds, Title of talk: “Visceral Pain: Mechanisms, Pathways and Surgical Solutions” Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, UAMS.

2003 (Nov) Guest Speaker, The Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas Medical School, Title of talk: “Neonatal injury: an etiology of functional pain in adults” Little Rock, AR, USA.

2003 (May) Invited Chair and Speaker, Symposium on Central Sensitization, Title of talk: “Animal models of sensitization” Digestive Diseases Week 2003, Orlando, FL, USA.

2003 (Mar.) Invited Plenary Speaker, Postgraduate Professional Development Course - British Society of Gastroenterology, Title of talk: “Neonatal stressors and adult visceral hypersensitivity in GI disease” Birmingham, UK.

2003 (Mar.) Invited Plenary Speaker, Spring Brain Conference, Plenary Session III, Title of talk: “The role of the dorsal columns in pain states” Sedona, AZ, USA.

2003 (Feb.) Guest Speaker, The Pain Advisory Board for Allergan Inc, Title of Talk: “Pharmacological validation of an animal model of chronic functional abdominal pain” Irvine, CA, USA.

2002 (Sep.) Moderator, Symposium on Basic Science – American Motility Society. Galveston, TX, USA.

2002 (June) Guest Speaker, The Pain Research Center at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard University. Title of talk: “The art and science of visceral pain: from neonatal plasticity to adult perception” Boston, MA, USA.

2002 (April) Speaker, The Spring Pain Research Conference. Title of talk: “Chronic abdominal pain: the ghost of a painful past” Grand Cayman, British West Indies.

2002 (April) Speaker, GlaxoSmithKline/Cambridge University Symposium. Title of talk: “Functional bowel disorders in an animal model of chronic visceral pain” Harlow, UK.

2002 (Mar.) Speaker, NIH Symposium: Oral, Craniofacial and Persistent Deep Pain. Title of talk: “Neural plastic changes initiated by neonatal injury: the culprit in chronic visceral pain” Baltimore, MD, USA.

2002 (Mar.) Guest Speaker, University of Maryland Dental School, Pain Program. Title of talk: “Plasticity of visceral pain circuitry in adult rats with neonatal colon injury” Baltimore, MD, USA.

2001 (Nov.) Speaker, The 2^nd Annual International Course and Workshop On Gastrointestinal Motility/Functional Disorders. Title of talk: “Biological Basis of Abdominal Pain” Galveston, TX, USA.

2001 (Sep.) Speaker, The 18^th International Symposium on Neurogastroenterology and Motility. Title of talk: “Painful neonatal memories and functional bowel disorders” Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

2001 (July) Speaker, “2001: A Brain-Gut Odyssey” meeting of the International Society for Brain-Gut Studies. Title of talk: “On the Journey of Pain: from Gut to Brain” University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

2001 (May) Speaker, “Evolving Animal Models for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders” a research symposium at the Digestive Diseases Week, 2001. Title of talk: “Rat Model of Persistent Visceral Hyperalgesia Following Early Life Gut Irritation” Atlanta, GA, USA.

2001 (April) Speaker, Seminar series at CURE, University of California at Los Angeles. Title of talk: “Chronic Abdominal Pain: The Wounds That Never Heal” Los Angeles, CA, USA.

2000 (Dec.) Speaker, International Course on Motility and Functional Bowel Disorders. Title of talk: “The Pathogenesis of Visceral Hyperlagesia.” Galveston, TX, USA.

2000 (Dec.) Coordinator and Speaker, Symposium on Gastrointestinal Pain. Title of talk: “An Animal Model of IBS: The Key to the Puzzle in a Long Abandoned Challenge?” University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.

2000 (Nov.) Chair and Speaker, Professional Development Course for the American Pain Society, Atlanta, GA, USA. Title of talk: “Management of chronic visceral pain: an overview of basic research, psychophysics, symptoms, treatments and social correlates.”

1999 (Oct.) Chair and Speaker, Symposium for the American Pain Society, Ft. Lauderdale, FL: “Pathogenesis, pathways and processing of colon pain: a “state of the science” address.”

1999 (Oct.) Speaker, Lecture for the Society for Neuroscience, “Pain Research - On the Threshold of a New Millennium.” Miami, FL.

1999 (May) Speaker, Seminar given for the Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Title of talk: “Ode to an Empty Bowel” Galveston, Texas.

1998 (May) Speaker, Seminar, Digestive Disease Week 98, Title of talk: “A quantitative basis for the dorsal column dominant role in visceral pain”. New Orleans, LA, USA.

1996 (Oct.) Speaker, Dissertation Defense Seminar, Dept. of Anatomy and Neurosciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Title of talk: “The role of the dorsal column in visceral pain”; Galveston, Texas, USA.

1996 (Feb.) Speaker, Seminar given at the University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center. Title of talk: “The role of the dorsal column in visceral pain” Oklahoma City, OK.

1995 (Jan.) Speaker, Dissertation Proposal seminar for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Dept. of Anatomy and Neurosciences, UTMB, “Visceral input into the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus: a pathway in the fasciculus gracilis involving the postsynaptic dorsal column system” Galveston, Texas, USA.

1994 (Aug.) Speaker, Seminar given at the Dept. of Anatomy and Neurosciences, UTMB, title of talk: “Viscero-somatic interactions in the thalamus: a possible role of the dorsal column” Galveston, Texas, USA.

1991 (July) Speaker, Dissertation Defense seminar for the degree of Master of Sciences, Dept. of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, AUB. Title of talk: “Dorsal column input into the nucleus locus coeruleus” Beirut, Lebanon.

1990 (June) Speaker, Seminar given at the dept. of Physiology, AUB. Title of talk: “The role of the nucleus locus ceoruleus in antinociception” Beirut, Lebanon.

2006: Interviewed on the live broadcast of Voice of America’s (VOA) daily international radio discussion “Talk to America”, Nov. 14, 2006, on the topic of Pain. "Talk to America" is the world's only international daily call-in/discussion program, broadcast in English Monday through Friday and aired over VOA's global short-wave transmitter network, as well via satellite, local radio stations overseas and the Internet. http://www.voanews.com/talk.

1999: Interviewed by Science News for an article entitled “Pain, Pain, Go Away” Science News 155: 108-110, February 1999.

1999: Interviewed by BioPhotonics International for an article entitled “Functional MRI shows pathway for visceral pain” BioPhotonics International pp. 26-28, March/April 1999.

1999: Interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Science Department, for a program entitled BBC Horizon on October 07, 1999.

1998: Interviewed by IMPACT (UTMB Newsletter) for an article entitled “Researchers determine how gut pain affects the brain. IMPACT 22 (20): 3, November 16, 1998.

1998: Interviewed by Radiology and Imaging Letter for a Feature Article entitled “Researchers use Brain fMRI to find New Pathway to Resolve Pelvic Pain.” RIL 18 (21): 163 – 165, December 1, 1998.

1996: Featured in the Galveston County Daily News under “UTMB Society awards 5 for services” The Galveston County Daily News 154 (61): 7-A, Monday June 10, 1996.

1996: Featured in IMPACT (UTMB Newsletter) as the recipient of the Sealy Society Mustard Seed Award in Research for 1995. IMPACT 20 (12): 1-2, June 17, 1996.

1988: Interviewed by “Le Nouveau Magazine” (weekly political, economical and cultural Middle Eastern magazine in French) for an article entitled “Le Club Culturel de L’OCP en mission diplomatique.” Le Nouveau Magazine No. 1591, January 30 1988.

1. Al-Chaer, E.D., Lawand, N.B., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Visceral nociceptive input into the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus: a new function of the dorsal column. J. Neurophysiol. 76:2661-2674, 1996.

2. Al-Chaer, E.D., Lawand, N.B., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Pelvic visceral input into the nucleus gracilis is largely mediated by the postsynaptic dorsal column pathway. J. Neurophysiol. 76: 2675-2690, 1996.

3. Hirshberg, R.M., Al-Chaer, E.D., Lawand, N.B. Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Is there a pathway in the dorsal funiculus that signals visceral pain? Pain 67:291-305, 1996.

4. Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Potentiation of thalamic responses to colorectal distension by visceral inflammation. NeuroReport 7:1635-1639, 1996.

5. Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. The dorsal column: A possible role in visceral hyperalgesia. In Jensen, T.S., Turner, J.A. and Wiesenfield-Hallin, Z. (ed): Proceedings of the 8th world congress on pain, vol. 8, 1997, pp. 839-853.

6. Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. The nucleus gracilis: an integrator for visceral and somatic information. J. Neurophysiol. 78:521‑527, 1997.

7. Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Effects of colon inflammation on the responses of postsynaptic dorsal column cells to visceral and cutaneous stimulation. NeuroReport 8: 3267-3273, 1997.

8. Al-Chaer, E.D., Feng, Y. and Willis, W.D. A role for the dorsal column in nociceptive visceral input into the thalamus of primates. J. Neurophysiol. 79 (6): 3143-3150, 1998.

9. Feng, Y., Cui, M., Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis, W.D. Epigastric antinociception by cervical dorsal column lesion in rats. Anesthesiology 89 (2): 411-420, 1998.

10. Al-Chaer, E.D., Feng, Y. and Willis, W.D. A comparative study of viscerosomatic input onto postsynaptic dorsal column and spinothalamic tract neurons in the primate. J. Neurophysiol. 82 (4):1876-1882, 1999.

11. Willis, W.D., Al-Chaer, E.D., Quast, M. J. and Westlund, K. N. A visceral pain pathway in the dorsal column of the spinal cord. In: The Neurobiology of Pain. By: The National Academy of Sciences (USA). PNAS 96 (14): 7675-7679, 1999.

12. Saab C.Y., Makki A., Quast M., Wei J., Al-Chaer E.D., Willis W.D. Is the cerebellum involved in pain? In: Proceedings of the 9th World Congress on Pain, vol 16. IASP Press, Seattle, pp 515–522, 2000.

13. Al-Chaer, E.D., Kawasaki, M. and Pasricha, P.J. A new model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity: in adult rats induced by colon irritation during postnatal development. Gastroenterology 119: 1276–1285, 2000.

14. Saab C.Y., Kawasaki M., Al-Chaer E.D. and Willis, W.D. Cerebellar cortical stimulation increases spinal visceral nociceptive responses. J. Neurophysiol. 85(6): 2359-2363, 2001.

15. Zhang, H.Q., Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis, W.D. Effect of tactile inputs on thalamic responses to noxious colorectal distension in rat. J. Neurophysiol. 88:1185-1196, 2002.

16. Zhang, H.Q., Rong, P.J., Zhang, S.P., Al Chaer, E.D. and Willis, W.D. Noxious visceral inputs enhance cutaneous tactile responses in rat thalamus. Neurosci. Lett. 336:109-112, 2003.

17. Lin, C. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Long-term sensitization of primary afferents in adult rats exposed to neonatal colon pain. Brain Res. 971: 73-82, 2003.

18. Kawasaki, M. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Intradermal capsaicin inhibits lumbar dorsal horn neuronal responses to colorectal distension. NeuroReport 14 (7): 985-9, 2003.

19. Arai, Y-C.P., Ueda, W. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Pre-anesthetic maternal separation increases pups' locomotor behavior during emergence from anesthesia in rats. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 48: 174-177, 2004.

20. Saab, C.Y., Arai, Y-C.P. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Modulation of visceral nociceptive processing in the lumbar spinal cord following thalamic stimulation or inactivation and after dorsal column lesion in rats with neonatal colon irritation. Brain Res. 1008 (2): 186-192, 2004.

21. Arai, Y-C.P., Ueda, W and Al-Chaer, E.D. Pre-anesthetic presence of an injured dam influences pups’ locomotor behavior during emergence from anesthesia in rats. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 49: 166-169, 2005.

22. Lin, C and Al-Chaer, E.D. Differential effects of glutamate receptor antagonists on dorsal horn neurons responding to colorectal distension in a neonatal colon irritation rat model. World J Gastroenterol 41:6495-6502, 2005.

23. Grundy, D., Al-Chaer, E.D., Aziz, Q., Collins, S.M., Ke, M., Tache, Y., Wood, J.D. Fundamentals of neurogastroenterology: basic science. Gastroenterology 130(5):1391-1411, 2006.

24. Saab, C.Y., Wang J., Gu, C., Garner, K.N. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Microglia: A newly discovered role in visceral hypersensitivity? Neuron Glia Biology 2: 271-277, 2006.

25. Hayar A.M., Gu C. and Al-Chaer E.D. An improved method for patch clamp recording and calcium imaging of neurons in the intact dorsal root ganglion in rats. J. Neurosci. Methods 173(1): 74-82, 2008.

26. Wang, J., Gu, C. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Altered behavior and digestive outcomes in adult male rats primed with minimal colon pain as neonates. Behav Brain Funct. 4(1): 28, 2008.

27. Chaloner A., Rao A., Al-Chaer E.D., Greenwood-Van Meerveld B. Importance of neural mechanisms in colonic mucosal and muscular dysfunction in adult rats following neonatal colonic irritation. Int J Dev Neurosci. 28(1):99-103, 2010.

28. Romanovsky D., Wang J., Al-Chaer E.D., Stimers J.R., Dobretsov M. Comparison of metabolic and neuropathy profiles of rats with streptozotocin-induced overt and moderate insulinopenia. Neuroscience. 170(1):337-347, 2010.

1. Al-Chaer, E.D., Feng, Y. and Willis, W.D. Visceral pain: a disturbance in the sensorimotor continuum? Pain Forum 7 (3): 117-125, 1998.

2. Al-Chaer, E.D. and Traub R.J. Biological basis of visceral pain: recent developments. Pain 96: 221-225, 2002.

3. Grundy D, Al-Chaer ED, Aziz Q, Collins SM, Ke M, Tache Y, Wood JD. Fundamentals of neurogastroenterology: basic science. Gastroenterology 130(5):1391-1411, 2006.

Wang, J., Gu, C., Garner K.N. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Sex differences in the processing of viscerosensory information.

1. Willis, W.D., Al-Chaer, E.D., Quast, M. J. and Westlund, K. N. Evidence for the presence of a visceral pain pathway in the dorsal column of the spinal cord. In Somatosensory processing: from single neuron to brain imaging. Editors: Rowe, M.J. and Iwamura Y. pp. 51-75, 2001. Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2. K. J. S. Anand, A. T. Bhutta, R. W. Hall, C. R. Rovnaghi, and E. D. Al-Chaer. Long-term effects of repetitive pain in the neonatal period: neuronal vulnerability, imprinting, and plasticity. In Neonatal Pain, Hodgson DM (Ed), Section IV, Chapter 15, pp. 197 – 210, Taylor and Francis Medical Books, London, 2005.

3. Al-Chaer, E.D. Descending Modulation of Visceral Pain. In Descending Modulation of Spinal Nociceptive Processing. Section Editor: Ronald Dubner. Encyclopedia of Pain. Schmidt R. and Willis W.D. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany, 2006, pp. 576-578.

4. Al-Chaer, E.D. Visceral Pain / Irritable Bowel Syndrome Model. In Animal Models and Experimental Tests to Study Nociception and Pain. Section Editor: Jin Mo Chung. Encyclopedia of Pain. Schmidt R. and Willis W.D. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany, 2006, pp. 2623-2626.

5. Wood JD, Grundy D, Al-Chaer ED, Aziz Q, Collins SM, Ke M, Tache Y. Fundamentals of neurogastroenterology: basic science. In ROME III, The Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, 3^rd Ed. (Drossman et al. Eds.), Degnon Associates, Inc. McLean, VA, pp. 31-88, 2006.

6. Al-Chaer, E.D. Postsynaptic Dorsal Column Neurons, Responses to Visceral Input. In Ascending Transmission of Nociceptive Signals. Section Editor: Glenn J. Giesler Jr. Encyclopedia of Pain. Schmidt R. and Willis W.D. editors. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany, 2006, pp. 1954-1956.

7. Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis W.D. Neuroanatomy of visceral pain: Pathways and processes in “Chronic abdominal and visceral pain: theory and practice” PJ Pasricha, WD Willis and GF Gebhart (Eds), Chapter 4, pp. 33-44, Informa Health Care, Inc. New York, NY, 2007.

8. Anand KJS, Al-Chaer ED, Bhutta AT and Hall RW. Development of Supraspinal Pain Processing. In: 3rd Edition of “Pain in Neonates & Infants” (Anand, Stevens, McGrath Eds.) Pain Research and Clinical Management, Chapter 3, Elsevier Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp. 25-44, 2007.

9. Sternberg W.F. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Long-term Consequences of Neonatal and Infant Pain from Animal Models. In: 3rd Edition of “Pain in Neonates & Infants” (Anand, Stevens, McGrath Eds.) Pain Research and Clinical Management, Chapter 5, pp. 57-66, Elsevier Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2007.

10. Al-Chaer, E.D. and Hyman, P.E. Visceral pain in infancy, In: 3rd Edition of “Pain in Neonates & Infants” (Anand, Stevens, McGrath Eds.) Pain Research and Clinical Management, Chapter 14, pp. 201-210, Elsevier Churchill-Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2007.

11. Al-Chaer, E.D. Visceral Pain. In “Mechanisms of Pain in Peripheral Neuropathy” (Maxim Dobrestov and Jun Ming Zhang, Eds), chapter 2, pp 29 – 45, 2008.

12. Al-Chaer, E.D. The Neuroanatomy of Pain and Pain Pathways, In “Biobehavioral Approaches to Pain” (Rhonda J. Moore, Editor), Chapter 2, pp 17 - 44, Springer, New York, 2009.

13. Elie D. Al-Chaer and Shelley A. Weaver. Early life trauma and chronic pain. In “Functional Pain Syndromes: Presentation and Pathophysiology”, (Emeran A. Mayer and M. Catherine Bushnell, Editors), Chapter 20, pp 423 – 454, IASP press, Seattle, WA, 2009.

1. Jabbur, S.J., El-Chaer, E., Atweh, S.F. and Saadé, N.E. Activation of locus coeruleus neurons by dorsal column (DC) stimulation (st). Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1991, 17:292.

2. Al-Chaer, E.D., Saadé,N.E., Atweh, S.F. and Jabbur, S.J. Dorsal column input into the nucleus locus ceoruleus in cat. Lebanese Association for the Advancement of Science Abstracts, 1992, 11:194.

3. Jabbur, S.J., Atweh, S.F., Al-Chaer, E.D. and Saadé, N.E. Modulation of discharges of cuneate neurons (CN) by conditionning stimuli to the lateral and medial vestibular nuclei. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1993, 19:329.

4. Rees, H., Tsuruoka, M., Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis, W.D. Excitation and inhibition of STT cells by stimulation of the pretectal region in the anesthetized primate. J. Physiol. Proc. 4760: 47, 1994.

5. Al-Chaer, E.D., Rees, H., Tsuruoka, M. and Willis, W.D. Facilitation of superficial STT cells by stimulation of the pretectal region in the primate. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1994, 20:548.

6. Hirshberg, R.M., Al-Chaer, E.D., Lawand, N.B., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Is there a pathway in the dorsal funiculus that signals visceral pain? 10th European Congress of Neurosurgery Abstracts, Berlin 1995.

7. Al-Chaer, E.D., Lawand, N.B., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. The dorsal column is more important for visceral pain than the spinothalamic tract? Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1995, 21:644.

8. Lawand, N.B., Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis W.D. Administration of morphine and CNQX in the rat sacral cord blocks the responses of dorsal column nuclei (DCN) cells to visceral but not to cutaneous stimulation. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1995, 21:644.

9. Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. The dorsal column: a possible role in visceral hyperalgesia. International Association for the Study of Pain Abstracts, 1996

10. Westlund, K.N., Hirshberg, R.M., Lawand, N.B., Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis, W.D. Anatomical evidence for a visceral pain pathway in the dorsal column. International Association for the Study of Pain Abstracts, 1996.

11. Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Modulation of viscero-somatic interactions in the thalamus by dorsal column input. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1996.

12. Westlund, Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis, W.D. The nucleus gracilis (NG): a cross road for pelvic visceral and cutaneous inputs into the thalamus. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1996.

13. Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Effects of colon inflammation on neuronal responses to colorectal distension and cutaneous stimuli. Gulf Coast GI Research Forum, 1996.

14. Rees, H., Houghton, K.A. Chen, P.-S., Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Anterior pretectal inhibition is blocked by spinal administration of strychnine but not blocked by "₂-adrenoceptor antagonists in the anaesthetized primate. J. Physl. Lon. 4950: 20, 1996.

15. Al-Chaer, E.D., Feng, Y., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. The dorsal column: a role in nociceptive viscerosensory processing in the primate. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1997.

16. Lawand, N.B., Al-Chaer, E.D., Willis W.D. and Westlund, K.N. Metabotropic glutamate receptors in the knee joint: a possible role in peripheral sensitization. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1997.

17. Willis, W.D., Westlund, K.N. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Spinal pathways for colorectal input into the solitary nucleus. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1997.

18. Chen, P.S., Houghton, A.K., Al-Chaer, E.D., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Responses of primate STT cells and rat dorsal horn cells to noxious cutaneous mechanical and thermal stimulation are inhibited by chemical stimulation of the anterior pretectal nucleus. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 1997.

19. Al-Chaer, E.D., Feng, Y., Westlund, K.N. and Willis, W.D. Visceral pain in the primate: a pathway in the dorsal column. Gulf Coast GI Research Forum, 1997.

20. Al-Chaer, E.D., Feng, Y., Wei, J., Gondesen, K., Willis, W.D. and Quast M. Brain activity during noxious visceral stimulation. Experimental Biology 1998 (FASEB).

21. Quast, M.J., Al-Chaer, E.D., Wei, J., Feng, Y., Illangasekare, N., Gonzalez, J.M., Deyo, D., Sell, S., Gondesen, K.J. and Willis, W.D. High resolution fMRI in a monkey model of visceral pain. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 1998.

22. Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis, W.D. Peripheral muscarinic receptors: a role in neuronal sensitization associated with colon inflammation. American Pain Society Abstracts, 1998.

23. Al-Chaer, E.D., Quast M., Feng, Y., Wei, J., Gondesen, K. Illangasekare, N., Deyo, D. and Willis, W.D. Visceral pain: an asymmetric function of the brain? Neurosci. Abstr. 24, p. 1389, 1998.

24. Al-Chaer, E.D., Feng, Y. and Willis, W.D. Quantitative basis for the dorsal column dominant role in visceral pain in the primate. Digestive Diseases Week Abstract, p A-900, 1998.

25. Winston, J., Shenoy, M., Micci, M.A., Toma, H., Al-Chaer, E.D., Hellmich, Embesi, H. J. and Pasricha, P.J. Tumor necrosis factor-a sensitizes primary neonatal sensory neurons in culture: the potential role of NF-kB in nociception. Gastroenterology 116 (4): G2854.

26. Al-Chaer, Elie D. and Pasricha, P.J. Transient colorectal irritation in the neonatal period produces long lasting visceral sensitization in rats: a potential model for IBS and other painful functional bowel disorders. Gastroenterology 116 (4): G4139.

27. Lu, C.L., Winston, J., Shenoy, M., Hellmich, H., Al-Chaer, Elie D., Saban, R., Saban, M., Lai, C.R. and Pasricha, P. J. Changes in neurotransmitter levels and gene expression after noxious mechanical stimulation of the rectum. Gastroenterology 116 (4): G4486.

28. Al-Chaer, E.D., Quast M., Feng, Y., Wei, J., Gondesen and Willis, W.D. Brain imaging of the long term effect of a midline myelotomy on the processing of visceral and somatic pain using fMRI. Ninth World Congress on Pain, Abstracts, p. 391, IASP Press, Vienna, Austria 1999.

29. Pasricha, P.J. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Neonatal colon irritation produces long lasting visceral hyperalgesia: a potential model for IBS in rats. Ninth World Congress on Pain, Abstracts, p. 392, IASP Press, Vienna, Austria 1999.

30. Saab, C.Y., Makki, A. A., Quast, M. J., Wei, J., Al-Chaer, E. D. and Willis, W. D. Is the cerebellum involved in pain? Ninth World Congress on Pain, Abstracts, p. 174, IASP Press, Vienna, Austria 1999.

31. Al-Chaer, E.D. and Pasricha, P.J. Recurring visceral hyperalgesia is mediated by a dynamic neural exchange along a dorsal horn – thalamus sensitized axis: a new model of IBS in rats. Society for Neuroscience, 29^th Annual Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Abstracts, p. 400, 1999.

32. Saab, C., Makki, A., Quast, M. J., Wei, J., Al-Chaer, E. D. and Willis, W. D. What might be the implications of pain processing by the cerebellum? Society for Neuroscience, 29^th Annual Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Abstracts, p. 145, 1999.

33. Zhang, H.Q., Al-Chaer, E.D., W.D. Willis and Chen, P.S. Electrophysiological evidence for referred pain in colorectal distension in rat. Society for Neuroscience, 29^th Annual Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Abstracts, p. 145, 1999.

34. Al-Chaer, Elie D. and Pasricha, P.J. A new animal model for chronic visceral hyperalgesia in rats. American Pain Society, 18^th Annual Scientific Meeting, Program Book, p. 187, 1999.

35. Zhang, H.Q., W.D. Willis and Al-Chaer, E.D. Interactions between vibrotactile skin stimulation and colorectal pain. American Pain Society, 18^th Annual Scientific Meeting, Program Book, p. 165, 1999.

36. Saab C.Y., Quast M.J., Wei J.N., Makki A., Al-Chaer E.D. and Willis W.D. Cerebellar activation induced by peripheral injection of capsaicin: a f-MRI / electrophysiology study. International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), Pennsylvania, May, 1999.

37. Kawasaki M., Pasricha, P.J. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Blockade of NK1 receptors in the spinal cord reduces the hypersensitivity associated with colorectal distension in an animal model of the irritable bowel syndrome. Gastroenterology 118 (4) #4418, 2000.

38. Broussard, R.F., Kawasaki M. and Al-Chaer, E.D. The dorsal column of the spinal cord facilitates spinal neuronal sensitization associated with colorectal hypersensitivity in an animal model of the irritable bowel sydrome. Gastroenterology 118 (4) #5355, 2000.

39. Pasricha, P.J., Kawasaki M. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Evidence of central neuronal sensitization associated with colorectal hypersensitivity in an animal model of the irritable bowel sydrome. Gastroenterology 118 (4) #5480, 2000.

40. Al-Chaer, E.D., Pasricha, P.J. and Kawasaki M. Evidence of central neuronal sensitization associated with chronic visceral hypersensitivity residual to neonatal colon irritation in rats. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies, 2000.

41. Saab, C.Y., Kawasaki M., Masaad, C.A., Saadé, N.E., Al-Chaer, E.D. and Willis W.D. Is the cerebellum involved in analgesia or Pain? Society for Neuroscience, 2000.

42. Saab C.Y., Kawasaki M, Al-Chaer E.D. and Willis W.D. Cerebellar modulation of spinal nociceptive responses: Can pain be influenced from the cerebellum? American Pain society, 19th Annual Scientific Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2-5, 2000.

43. Al-Chaer, E.D., M. Kawasaki and R.F. Broussard. Does the dorsal column control access of visceral information to other sensory channels in the spinal cord? Society for Neuroscience, 2000.

44. Kawasaki M., Ushida, T. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Intradermal capsaicin attenuates responses of spinal cord neurons to colorectal distension: characteristics of viscerosomatic convergence or DNICs? Society for Neuroscience, 2000.

45. Al-Chaer, E.D. and M. Kawasaki. Rekindling of neuronal sensitization in the spinal cord by the dorsal column in an animal model of chronic visceral pain. American Pain Society, 2000.

46. Al-Chaer, E.D. and Y. Park. Sensitization of electromyographic responses in an animal model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity. Society for Neuroscience, 2001.

47. Park, Y. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Thoracolumbar neuronal sensitization in an animal model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity. Society for Neuroscience, 2001.

48. Park, Y. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Thalamic stimulation differentially modifies spinal neuronal responses to colorectal distension in rats with chronic visceral pain. The Journal of Pain 3(2) Supp.1: page 31, #722. American Pain Society, 2002.

49. Lin, C. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Primary afferent sensitization in an animal model of chronic visceral pain. The Journal of Pain 3(2) Supp.1: page 27, #706. American Pain Society, 2002.

50. Ma, H., Park, Y. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Functional outcomes of neonatal colon pain measured in adult rats. The Journal of Pain 3(2) Supp.1: page 27, #707. American Pain Society, 2002.

51. Park, Y. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Thoracolumbar neuronal sensitization to colon stimuli in Al-Chaer's animal model of chronic visceral pain. The Journal of Pain 3(2) Supp.1: page 27, #708. American Pain Society, 2002.

52. Lin, C. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Exploratory activity in female rats with neonatal colon irritation varies with the estrus cycle. International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP): August 2002, San Diego, CA.

53. Lin, C. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Sensitization of thoracolumbar primary afferent responses to colorectal distension (CRD) in an animal model of chronic visceral pain. Program No. 451.10. 2002 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2002. CD-ROM.

54. Hinze, C.L., Lin C. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Estrous cycle and stress related variations of open field activity in adult female rats with neonatal colon irritation (CI). Program No. 155.14. 2002 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2002. CD-ROM.

55. Al-Chaer, E.D. and Lin, C. Sex-related differences in exploratory activity in adult rats exposed to neonatal colon pain. Program No. 482.8. 2003 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. CD-ROM.

56. Lin, C. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Differential effects of NMDA and non-NMDA receptor antagonists on visceroceptive dorsal horn neurons in adult rats exposed to neonatal colon pain. Program No. 482.9. 2003 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. CD-ROM.

57. Al-Chaer, E.D. and Park, Y-C. Sensitization of spinal thoracolumbar neurons to colon stimuli in adult rats exposed to neonatal colon pain. DDW, W1429, Gastroenterology 2003.

58. Wang, J., Peng, Xin and Al-Chaer, E.D. Sex-related differences in visceral sensitivity in adult rats with neonatal colon pain. Gastroenterology 126 (4) (Suppl. 2): A-161 (S1090), 2004.

59. Wang, J., Xie J. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Plastic changes in the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the behavioral responses to colorectal distension (CRD) in adult rats exposed to neonatal colon irritation (CI). Gastroenterology 126 (4) (Suppl. 2): A-161 (S1091), 2004.

60. Xie, J., Song, R.H., Wang, J., and Al-Chaer, E.D. Up-regulation of NR1 subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in adult rats with neonatal colon irritation and behavioral implications. Gastroenterology 126 (4) (Suppl. 2): A-161 (S1103), 2004.

61. J. Wang, E.D. Al-Chaer. Role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in sensitization of A

- and C- primary afferent fibers to colorectal distension (CRD) in adult rats exposed to neonatal colon irritation (CI) Program No. 172.10. 2004 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2004.

62. J. Xie, J. Wang, E.D. Al-Chaer. Role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the visceral hypersensitivity of adult rats exposed to neonatal colon irritation (CI). Program No. 172.11. 2004 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2004.

63. R.H. Song, J. Xie, J. Wang, E.D. Al-Chaer. Differential regulation of NR1 subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the spinal cord (SC) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of adult rats exposed to neonatal colon pain and behavioral implications. Program No. 172.12. 2004 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2004.

64. X. Peng, J. Wang, E.D. Al-Chaer. Sex-related differences in visceral sensitivity in adult rats with neonatal colon pain Program No. 172.13. 2004 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2004.

65. Jing Wang, Chunping Gu, Xin Peng, Kirsten Garner and Elie D. Al-Chaer. Estrogen modulates visceral sensitivity in rats. Program No. 52.7, 2005 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005.

66. Chunping Gu, Jing Wang, Xin Peng, Kirsten Garner, Cheng Wang and Elie D. Al-Chaer. Nenonatal colon irritation induces alterations in mRNA and protein expression of NMDA receptor NR1 subunit in rats. Program No. 52.8, 2005 Abstract Viewer/Itinerary Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005.

67. Jing Wang, Chunping Gu, Xin Peng, Kirsten Garner and Elie D. Al-Chaer. Estrogen modulates visceral sensitivity in adult rats exposed to neonatal colon irritation (CI). DDW 2006. Gastroenterology 130 (4) S2: S1749, p. A-249, 2006.

68. Jing Wang, Kirsten Garner and Elie D. Al-Chaer. Gonadal hormones modulate stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity in rats. DDW 2006. Gastroenterology 130 (4) S2: S1773, p. A-254, 2006.

69. C. Gu, J. Wang, E. D. Al-Chaer. Neonatal intracolonic zymosan: a new model of post-inflammatory chronic visceral hypersensitivity in adult rats. Program No. 142.14. 2006 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Atlanta, GA: Society for Neuroscience, 2006.

70. J. Wang, C. Gu, C. Y. Saab, E. D. Al-Chaer. Glial cells: a newly-discovered role in visceral hypersensitivity? Program No. 142.15. 2006 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Atlanta, GA: Society for Neuroscience, 2006.

71. Jing Wang, Kirsten Garner, Chunping Gu, Carl Y. Saab, and E. D. Al-Chaer. Glial cells: a newly-discovered role in visceral hypersensitivity? DDW 2007, Gastroenterology 132 (4) S2: T2001, p. A-600, 2007.

72. E. D. Al-Chaer, C. Gu, A. Hayar. An improved method for patch clamp recording of neurons in the intact dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in rats. Program No. 725.16. 2007 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2007.

73. J. Wang, E.D. Al-Chaer. Sex hormones modulate primary afferent responses to colorectal distension (CRD) in rats. Program No. 725.15. 2007 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2007.

74. Al-Chaer E.D., Gu C., Soni P., Garner K.N., Fann A., Wang J. Neonatal Cuddling Prevents the Development of Adverse Consequences of Neonatal Injury in Rats. Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, #4454.14, 2008.

75. Archana Rao, Elie D. Al-Chaer, and Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld. Repetitive Colorectal Distension in Neonatal Rats Induces Colonic Mucosal and Muscular Dysfunction in Adulthood. Abstract #807, Digestive Disease Week, San Diego 2008

76. Jing Wang, Chunping Gu, and Elie D. Al-Chaer. Sex Differences in the Characteristics and Role of the Postsynaptic Dorsal Column (PSDC) Pathway in Visceral Pain. Abstract #T1434, Digestive Disease Week, San Diego 2008.

77. Al-Chaer E.D., Gu C. and Wang J. Sex Differences in the Characteristics and Role of Visceral Pain Pathways. Presentation Number: PM 312, 12^th World Congress on Pain, Glasgow, UK, 2008.

78. C Gu, J Wang, P Soni, KN Garner, E.D. Al-Chaer. Neonatal cuddling prevents the development of adverse consequences of neonatal injury in rats via opiate and CRF sensitive pathways. Program No. 171.11/LL12. 2008 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2008. Online.

79. J Wang, C Gu, E.D. Al-Chaer. Sex hormones modulate the role of the postsynaptic dorsal column (PSDC) pathway in visceral pain. Program No. 171.14/LL15. 2008 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2008. Online.

80. Jing Wang, Krishnapraveen Yadlapalli, John E. Donello, Daniel W. Gil, Elie D. Al-Chaer. Role of the Sympathetic Nervous System in Chronic Visceral Hypersensitivity in Rats. Abstract #109, Digestive Disease Week, Chicago 2009.

81. M. Dobretsov, D. Romanovsky, E.D. Al-Chaer. Pressure-induced pain: early sign of diabetes-associated impairment of insulin production in rats. Program#: 435.2, 2009 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Chicago, IL: Society for Neuroscience, 2009.

82. M.R. Watts, J. Watts, C. Gu and E.D. Al-Chaer. The effect of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic (TNBS) acid-induced colon inflammation on the activation state of microglia in L6-S1 segments of the rat spinal cord. Program#: 655.25, 2009 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Chicago, IL: Society for Neuroscience, 2009.

83. J. Wang, C.Y. Saab and E.D. Al-Chaer. P2X and p38 MAPK activate spinal cord microglia in rats with visceral hypersensitivity. Program#: 655.26, 2009 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Chicago, IL: Society for Neuroscience, 2009.

84. J.L. Watts and E.D. Al-Chaer. The effect of ibuprofen and morphine on visceral hypersensitivity in rats with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic (TNBS) acid-induced colon inflammation. Program#: 655.27, 2009 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Chicago, IL: Society for Neuroscience, 2009.

85. C. Gu, J. Watts and E.D. Al-Chaer. Effect of neonatal colon inflammation on the activation state of microglia in the adult rat spinal cord. Program#: 655.28, 2009 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Chicago, IL: Society for Neuroscience, 2009.

86. Daniel W. Gil, Jing Wang, Chunping Gu, John E. Donello, Elie D. Al-Chaer. Selective effect of alpha2-adrenergic agonist, AGN-203818, on chronic visceral hypersensitivity in rats. Presentation #939, Digestive Disease Week, New Orleans, LA, 2010.

87. J.L. Watts, C. Gu, C.Y. Saab, E.D. Al-Chaer. The effect of minocycline on the activation state of microglia in the spinal cord of rats with colon inflammation induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic (TNBS) acid. Program#: 682.15, 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010.

88. E.D. Al-Chaer and J.L. Watts. P2Y12 receptor mRNA expression is decreased in rats with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic (TNBS) acid - induced colon inflammation. Program#: 682.20, 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010.

89. B.W. LeBlanc, M. Iwata, Q.-G. Nguyen, A.C.G. Crego, J.L. Watts, E.D. Al-Chaer, C.Y. Saab. Hyperactive microglia and central sensitization in a model of colon inflammation. Program#: 682.21, 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010.

90. M.R. Watts and E.D. Al-Chaer. Activation of α2-adrenoceptors alleviates visceral hypersensitivity in an animal model of colon inflammation. Program#: 682.22, 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010.

91. J. Wang, C. Gu, S. Cabrera, J. Donello, D. Gil and E.D. Al-Chaer. Is chronic visceral hypersensitivity a sympathetically-mediated pain? Program#: 682.23, 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010.

92. C. Gu, J. Wang, J.L. Watts, C.Y. Saab and E.D. Al-Chaer. p38 MAPK inhibitor ameliorates chronic visceral hypersensitivity in rats with neonatal colon irritation. Program#: 682.24, 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010.

94. K. Yadlapalli, A.M. Hayar and E.D. Al-Chaer. Differential effects of ATP on the electrophysiological properties of dorsal horn neurons in the rat. Program#: 682.25, 2010 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. San Diego, CA: Society for Neuroscience, 2010.

1. Elie D. Al-Chaer. The neuroanatomy of pain and pain pathways. In “Handbook of Pain and Palliative Care: Biobehavioral Approaches for the Life Course”, Rhonda J. Moore, Editor, Springer.

1. Wang, J., Peng, X., and Al-Chaer, E.D. Role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the visceral hypersensitivity to colorectal distension (CRD) in adult rats exposed to neonatal colon irritation (CI).

2. Wang, J., Gu C. and Al-Chaer, E.D. Sex differences in the role of the postsynaptic dorsal column in visceral pain.

Besides a few visits to the gym every now and then, a game of tennis when a partner is available or a hike to the nearest trail when the weather permits, I am not much of a body builder. So, when I am not engaged in activities that build my CV, I immerse myself in problems of geometry, philosophy, knowledge and existence; “mental gymnastics.” The mathematician in me likes to draw logical deductions that the philosopher likes to challenge. The geometrician likes to draw lines and to sketch plans in an attempt to realize a nagging idea or give shape to a fleeting dream. The strategist often calls for another game of chess. At the end of the day (or the night), I find myself with an idiosyncratic house plan, a highly critical opinion written in a blog on a website of my design, or on my knees praying for a revelation that will bring me closer to the Truth.

Having said all that, I find the most rewarding activity to be the play-time and quality-time that I spend with my son. Seeing the world through the fresh eyes of an eight year old never fails to give me a renewed perspective on life.