Cory Goracke-Postle

Ph.D. 2007

Thesis Title:

Cellular Cycling of Agmatine

Current Position:

Director, Center for Pain Research
Office of the Vice President for Research
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:

College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University B.A., Psychology, 1999

Major Advisor(s):

Research Description:

Normally, pain transmission from primary sensory fibers in the periphery to secondary projection neurons in the spinal cord serves a protective role in our bodies. However, during chronic pain states, this response becomes maladaptive, signaling pain in the absence of any such stimuli. It is the goal of the lab that I am a part of to better understand chronic pain in order to more effectively treat such conditions.

The main goal of my research is to investigate ways in which we may be able to modulate the neural mechanisms underlying chronic pain. Currently, I am considering the role of agmatine, an endogenous amine, in this plasticity-driven event. My research is focused mainly on immunocytochemical and molecular analysis of the spinal cord and brain in mice, specifically investigating whether agmatine can be up or down-regulated via modulation of its synthetic and metabolic enzymes. This research may offer a new approach, taking advantage of endogenous amines, to the treatment of chronic pain.

Lab Rotations:

  • Chris Honda
  • Bob Elde
  • Carolyn Fairbanks
  • George Wilcox

Courses Taken Beyond the Core Courses:

  • MVB8361, Neuro-Immune Interactions
  • PHM8150, Pharmacokinetics Research Sem
  • PHM8481, Advanced Neuropharmaceutics
  • NSc8320, Readings in Neurobiology
  • PHCL8221 Pain and Analgesia
  • PHCL8208 Neuropsychopharmacology
  • GRAD8101 and 8102, Preparing Future Facutly

Graduate Level Minor:

  • Supporting Program: Pharmaceutics

Conferences Attended and Presentations:

  • Society for Neuroscience, Fall 2004

Committee Members:

  • Carolyn Fairbanks
  • George Wilcox
  • Chris Honda
  • Laura Stone

Selected Publications:

  • Fairbanks CA, Goracke-Postle CJ. Neurobiological studies of chronic pain and analgesia: Rationale and refinements. Eur J Pharmacol. 2015;759:169-181.
  • Goracke-Postle CJ, Overland AC, Riedl MS, Stone LS, Fairbanks CA. Potassium- and capsaicin-induced release of agmatine from spinal nerve terminals. J Neurochem. 2007;102:1738-1748.
  • Goracke-Postle CJ, Overland AC, Stone LS, Fairbanks CA. Agmatine transport into spinal nerve terminals is modulated by polyamine analogs. J Neurochem. 2007;100:132-141.
  • Goracke-Postle CJ, Nguyen HO, Stone LS, Fairbanks CA. Release of tritiated agmatine from spinal synaptosomes.  Neuroreport. 2006;17(1):13-17.
  • Nguyen HO, Goracke-Postle CJ, Kaminski LL, Overland AC, Morgan AD, Fairbanks CA..  Neuropharmacokinetic and dynamic studies of agmatine. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003;1009:82-105.

Awards and Honors:

  • 2004-present Pre-doctoral Fellowship: National Institute on Drug Abuse National Research Service Award
  • PharmacoNeuroImmunology Training Program, University of Minnesota
  • 2003-2004 Pre-doctoral Fellowship: National Institute of Drug Abuse Pre-doctoral Training of Neuroscientists, University of Minnesota

Home Town:

  • Prior Lake, MN
Cory Goracke-Postle