Annemarie Dedek

Annemarie Dedek
Assistant Professor
Location: PHR 3010A

Biography

Dr. Annemarie Dedek’s research focuses on using translational models to better understand the physiological changes associated with chronic pain, with a particular focus on understanding the role of sex on nociception. The team consists of interdisciplinary collaborations with Patient Partners, researchers, clinicians, and veterinarians.

Research Interests

  • Pain processing

  • Spinal cord

  • Analgesia

  • Sex hormones

  • Translational models

  • Electrophysiology

  • Pain behaviour testing

Scholarly Research

Education

  • 2023-2024, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Dalhousie University, Canada

  • 2021 – 2023, Mitacs Industrial Postdoctoral Fellowship, Carleton University, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company, Canada/United States

  • 2015 – 2021, PhD, Carleton University, Canada

  • 2011 – 2015, BSc Honours, Carleton University

Awards

  • 2021-2023, Mitacs Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

  • 2023, Dr. Terry K. Borsook Memorial Postdoctoral Fellow Canadian Pain Society Award

  • 2022, CIHR-INMHA Brain Star Award

  • 2022, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Postdoctoral Research Award

  • 2021, Society for Neuroscience Trainee Professional Development Award

  • 2018-2021, Ontario Graduate Scholarship

  • 2020, Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics Ken Piafsky Award

  • 2019, CIHR-INMHA Brain Star Award

  • 2017, NSERC CGS-M

Service

  • 2022 – Present Frontiers in Pain Research Review Editor

  • 2023 – Present Canadian Pain Society Scientific Program Committee Member

  • 2023 – Present Canadian Association for Neuroscience Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee Member

Professional Associations

  • Canadian Pain Society

Teaching*

  • PHARM 141 - Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry, Toxicology and Pharmacology
    • Taught in 2025
  • PHARM 150 - World of Pharmacy - From Drug Discovery to Patient Care
    • Taught in 2025
  • PHARM 223 - Integrated Patient Focused Care 4
    • Taught in 2025

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

Selected/Recent Publications

  • Dedek, A., Xu, J., Lorenzo, L.E., Godin, A. G., Kandegedara, C. M., Glavina, G., Landrigan, J. A., Lombroso, P. J., De Koninck, Y., Tsai, E. C., Hildebrand, M. E. A neuronal mechanism of spinal hyperexcitability is sexually dimorphic in rodent and human models of pathological pain. Brain. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab408

  • Dedek, A., Hildebrand, M. E. Advances and barriers in understanding presynaptic NMDA receptors in spinal pain processing. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience. 2022. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2022.864502/full

  • Dedek, A.*, Harding, E.K.*, Bonin, R., Salter, M.W., Snutch, T.P., Hildebrand, M.E. The T-type calcium channel inhibitor, Z944, inhibits excitability of lamina I spinal neurons and attenuates pain hypersensitivity. The British Journal of Pharmacology. 2021. *Both authors contributed equally. https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bph.15498

  • Dedek, A.*, J. Xu*, C. Kandegedara, A. G. Godin, L. Lorenzo, Y. De Koninck, P. J. Lombroso, E. C. Tsai, M. E. Hildebrand. Loss of STEP61 links disinhibition to NMDAR potentiation in rodent and human spinal pain processing. Brain. 2019. *Both authors contributed equally. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awz105

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