M. Danilo Boada, MSc, PhD

Graduated from the University of La Habana on 1993 as BSc in Biology, he obtains his Master Degree on Mammals Physiology on 1996. After a period serving as Executive Director of the Codex Foundation in his home country (Ecuador), he continued his scientific career in Europe. In 2005 he got his PhD “Summa Cum Laude” in Neurosciences and Cellular and Molecular Biology on the Miguel Hernandez University (Spain). After move to the United States he toke a position as Post-Doctoral Fellow in the University of Wyoming and joined the WFBMC Pain Mechanisms Laboratory in the 2009.

 Dr Boada’s overall goals are focused on the study and characterization of the mammalian somatosensory system physiological functions, in normal as well pathological conditions. Specifically, the molecular basis of the mechanical transduction on primary sensory neurons and the circuits, architecture, and sensory integration in secondary order sensory neurons in the spinal cord. For this task, he uses a combination of different techniques, including electrophysiological (extracellular and intracellular [Sharp electrodes]), pharmacological, inmunohistochemical (ICC), and neuroanatomical approaches, and in some cases fluorescence imaging technologies. The obvious limitation of available models for these studies motivated him to develop novel in vivo spinal cord/DRG or trigeminal ganglia preparations for combined structure/function analyses of individual, physiological indentified skin sensory and spinal cord neurons in adult mice and adult/neonate rats (under well controlled physiological conditions). The unparalleled resolution afforded by this challenging and detailed single-neuron (intracellular record) approach has provided a number of novel insights into sensory neuron biology, particularly with respect to the anatomical and functional diversity of nociceptors and their interaction with tactile afferents at multiple levels on the superficial dorsal horn.

Peer-reviewed publications:

• Coro F, Pérez M, Mora E, Boada D, Conner WE, Sanderford MV, Avila H (1998). Receptor cell habituation in the A1 auditory receptor of four noctuoid moths. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2879-2890.
• Boada MD, Woodbury CJ (2007). Physiological properties of mouse skin sensory neurons recorded intracellularly in vivo: temperature effects on somal membrane properties. J Neurophysiol. Aug;98(2):668-80.
• Boada MD, Woodbury CJ (2008). Myelinated skin sensory neurons project extensively throughout adult mouse substantia gelatinosa. J Neurosci. 2008 Feb 27;28(9):2006-14.

Other Publications:

• Coro F, Boada D, Alonso N (1994). Habituación en neuronas centrales auditivas en una especie de lepidóptero. : First CARIBRO Regional Meeting. Page. 234. La Habana, Cuba.
• Coro F, Pérez M, Boada D, Avila H (1995). Sensory habituation in an auditory receptor of a moth. Fourth International Congress of Neuroethology. 376. Cambridge, England.
• Boada MD, Viana F, Belmonte C (2004). Functional characterization of trigeminal ganglion neurons in an “in vivo” mouse preparation. FENS Forum 2004. (Federations of European Neuroscience Societies). Ref.: FENS Abstr., vol.2, A016.3, 2004. Lisboa, Portugal.
• Boada MD, Woodbury CJ (2006). Functional and neuroanatomical characterization of DRG sensory neurons in a novel “in vivo” mouse preparation. FENS Forum 2004. (Federations of European Neuroscience Societies). Ref.: FENS A. 109.2. Vienna, Austria.
• Boada MD, Woodbury CJ (2006). Intrasomal recordings from temperature-sensitive mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons in vivo. SFN Meeting (Society for Neurosciences). Ref SFN 442.11/M16. Atlanta, USA.
• Woodbury CJ, Boada MD (2006). Central anatomy of individual, physiologically identified skin sensory neurons innervating mouse trunk skin in vivo. SFN Meeting (Society for Neurosciences). Ref SFN 442.12/N1. Atlanta, USA.
• Woodbury CJ, Boada MD (2007). Thermal filtering of tactile inputs: New hinge on an old gate. SFN Meeting (Society for Neurosciences). Ref SFN 124.7/N1. San Diego, USA.
• Boada MD, Gutierrez S, Woodbury CJ (2008). Why does ice freeze pain? Effects of cold on activity in the superficial dorsal horn. SFN Meeting (Society for Neurosciences). Ref SFN -/D8. Washington, USA.
• Boada MD, Woodbury CJ (2008). Mechanical threshold of myelinated nociceptors is temperature dependent.  Ref SFN -/D8. Washington, USA.

Presentations:

• Boada MD (2005). Functional characterization of trigeminal ganglion neurons in an “in vivo” mouse preparation. PhD dissertation. Neurosciences Institute. INA-UMH. Alicante, Spain.
• Boada MD, Woodbury C. J. (2006). Functional and neuroanatomical characterization of DRG sensory neurons in a novel “in vivo” mouse preparation. FENS Forum 2004. (Federation of European Neuroscience Societies). Ref.: FENS A. 109.2. Vienna, Austria.
• Boada MD, Woodbury C. J. (2006). Intrasomal recordings from temperature-sensitive mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons in vivo. SFN Meeting (Society for Neurosciences). Ref SFN 442.11/M16. Atlanta, USA.
• Boada MD, Woodbury C. J. (2007). Membrane oscillations put the brakes on nociceptor hyperexcitability. SFN Meeting (Society for Neurosciences). Ref SFN 124.8/N1. San Diego, USA.