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 - Cynthia L. Grosskreutz, MD, PhD
Drug Development in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – Great Expectations
Cynthia L. Grosskreutz, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Part-time
Harvard Medical School
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
ACB Seminar Series - Tate Neff and Brendan Creemer
Tate Neff, a Cell and Developmental Biology Student in the Yang Lab, will present a seminar titled “The Role of Micropeptide BNLN in Diabetes Mellitus."
Brendan Creemer, a Cell and Developmental Biology Student in the Ryan Lab, will present a seminar titled “Determining The Role Of Integrin a6 In Regulating Airway Basal Cell Stemness."
TriNetX Basic Training
This training will provide an in-depth look at TriNetX and show you how to use the tool. We will go through building a study, searching for a specific population, and finally what information you can gather from the specific cohort. We will also discuss next steps on getting data extracted for research.
After this training you will have a thorough understanding of how to use TriNetX and what the process is to get data extracted for research studies.
Register by clicking the virtual event link...
Neuroscience and Pharmacology Seminar - Cynthia L. Grosskreutz, MD, PhD
Drug Development in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – Great Expectations
Cynthia L. Grosskreutz, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Part-time
Harvard Medical School
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...
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...