Migraine headache is one of the most debilitating disorders in the world and treatments are insufficient. The Sowers laboratory studies the neurocircuitry underlying migraine and post-traumatic headache. Our preclinical laboratory focuses heavily on the sensory abnormalities associated with migraine and post-traumatic headache, including photophobia, spontaneous pain and touch hypersensitivity. Our lab’s research uses functional MRI, optogenetic and DREADD approaches to better understand the circuits contributing to those sensory abnormalities. We recently identified the deep cerebellar nuclei as possible sensory integration centers underlying sensory abnormalities in migraine. We are a VA associated lab and part of the VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss with a special emphasis on Veteran related problems in headache. Post-traumatic headache is similar to migraine and affects about 50% of Veterans who saw combat in war zones. Our hope is to one day identify brain regions that can be manipulated in humans to treat headache. Our promotion of a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach to tackle these important questions in headache medicine offers trainees room to grow and become wonderful independent scientists.
Dr. Sowers was recently featured in Medicine Iowa, a publication of University of Iowa Healthcare featuring stories of research and education at Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. View the article here: https://medicineiowa.org/fall-2025/levi-sowers-shedding-light-migraine-and-post-traumatic-headache
Iowa Neuroscience Institute Events
Neuroscience and Pharmacology Seminar - Rong Grace Zhai, PhD
Harnessing the Power of Drosophila for Therapeutic Discovery for Genetic Neuropathies
Rong Grace Zhai, PhD
Jack Miller Professor of Neurology
Vice Chair of Research
Department of Neurology
University of Chicago
Iowa Neuroscience Institute Seminar: Michael Yassa, PhD
Seminar Title TBD
Michael Yassa, PhD
Professor, Neurobiology and Behavior
James L. McGaugh Endowed Chair in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Professor, Psychiatry and Human Behavior
Professor, Neurology
Director, Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
University of California, Irvine
Iowa Neuroscience Institute seminars feature top neuroscientists from around the country sharing their latest...
Carver College of Medicine Events
REDCap Surveys Training
This is the third step in the REDCap training series. In this training, we will cover survey configuration and distribution such as:
Allowing potential participants to self-initiate participation in your study with public surveys Manually and automatically sending surveys Administering electronic consent (e-consent) forms Controlling survey access with conditional logic and survey loginThis training is a demo and not hands-on. After this training you will have a basic understanding of...
Neuroscience and Pharmacology Workshop - Kavita Solanki, PhD & Shikha Salhotra, PhD
Expression and function of the complement receptor C5aR1 in neuropathic pain
Kavita Solanki, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. Yuriy Usachev's Lab
Neurogenic Mechanisms of Hypertension
Shikha Salhotra, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Dr. Kamal Rahmouni's Lab
Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion!
This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science.
Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.
Hardin Open Workshops - EndNote Desktop (Zoom)
EndNote is a reference management tool that helps you to easily gather together your references in one place, organize them, and then insert them into papers and format them in a style of your choosing. This session will walk you through the basics of using EndNote to collect and format your citations. The class will be hands-on, and there will be time for questions at the end.
PLEASE NOTE
Enrollment in HOW is open to all University of Iowa affiliates and residents of the state of Iowa. Advance...
REDCap Advanced Training
This is the fourth step in the REDCap training series. In this training we will cover advanced features such as:
Importing data from a CSV file Ways to customize your data entry experience with form display logic Making your forms more dynamic and personalized with context aware smart variables Sending automated, conditional email alerts Ensuring data is high quality by executing data quality rules, creating data 'missingness' codes, and opening data queriesRegister by clicking the...