Annemarie Dedek

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.

• Pain processing

• Spinal cord

• Analgesia

• Sex hormones

• Translational models

• Electrophysiology

• Pain behaviour testing

The Dedek Lab studies how the spinal cord processes pain signals, and how this signaling can change in response to chronic pain. A major problem in the pain research field is shortcomings in translating findings in basic science rodent studies into the human clinical population. To bridge the gap between the lab and the clinic, The Dedek lab combines classic rodent models with translational human organ donor and canine arthritis pain models, in a combination of electrophysiology techniques and cutting-edge behaviour testing. A particular focus on the lab is to examine the role of sex and sex hormones on pain signaling.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Canadian Pain Society

• 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.

• 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

• 2022 The Ottawa Citizen - Finding of sex-related differences in pain signaling could lead to better treatment
• 2022 GEN Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News - Chronic Pain is Processed Via Sex-Specific Conserved Mechanisms