STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Dr. Amber Harris Bozer, Head of the Department of Neuroscience at Tarleton State University, has been awarded a $408,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how the nervous system processes pain.
“Millions of Americans suffer from chronic pain, making it a prolific health concern,” said Dr. Bozer. “This study contributes to the body of literature that advances our understanding of how the nervous system works for pain.”
The study will focus on the sensory and emotional components of pain present in individuals with chronic knee osteoarthritis to gain a better understanding of how this pain is processed. Dr. Bozer will conduct research alongside the Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Anna Park at the University of Central Arkansas, and consultants, Dr. Angela Liegey-Dougall at The University of Texas at Arlington, Dr. Francesca Filbey at The University of Texas at Dallas, and Dr. Miranda Nash at Stephenville Medical and Surgical Clinic.
“What we are doing is profiling the brain activity during the different dimensions of pain, specifically what’s going on in your brain when you’re processing the sensory component of pain versus the emotional component of pain,” explained Dr. Bozer. “We have this 256 electrode cap that we’re going to put on people’s heads to record brain activity from individuals who don’t have chronic pain and compare these two groups.”
The grant will fund five graduate students who will learn how to use the complex machinery required for this research, gather data through testing, analyze the results and present the findings at various conferences.
“Research is what transformed my life and gave me a career path. For five students, their careers will be transformed and they will be even more competitive as they look for PhD programs in their field,” said Dr. Bozer.
Dr. Bozer has submitted work for NIH grant consideration for the last five years and is excited to have finally accomplished her goal with a study that she is passionate about and believes will make a difference in students’ lives, as well as those struggling with chronic pain.
She explained that this victory was a team effort and that she would not have been able to attain this grant without the support of her colleagues and the university, including NIH grant writing training from Dr. Diane Stearns, Tarleton State Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. She hopes to encourage others who are discouraged or feel like they cannot achieve this goal to keep trying.
“Science is all about rejection. Grants get rejected, you get rejected from fellowships or jobs and you have a choice about how you face that rejection. You can give up, or you can take the feedback, learn from your rejection and do better.”
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.