Laura Sirucek
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laurasirucek.bsky.social
Laura Sirucek
@laurasirucek.bsky.social
Postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain #CNAP at Aalborg University #AAU - from athlete to scientist, interested in the #brain in #pain, passionate about #neuroscience and #painresearch.
My smile (notably at 1 AM CEST 😅) says it all:

I had loads of fun co-organizing and moderating this ECR event hosted by @iasp.bsky.social Early Career Network #IASPECN! 🥰

Thanks to IASP, my co-moderators, and all participants - I’m sure we sparked some new global connections! 🌎

#ECR #Networking
Last week’s #IASP ECN Digital Networking Event brought together Early Career Researchers from Brazil to the Philippines, Turkey to Australia, the US to India. Huge thanks to all participants, moderators & the Communication Committee for making it a success. #Networking #PainResearch
September 23, 2025 at 1:23 PM
🚀 Less than one week to go! 🤩

We, the @iasp.bsky.social Early Career Network (ECN) Communication Committee, are hosting a Digital Networking Event on Sept 16, 2025. 💻

👉 Session 1 is almost full – save your spot now or join Session 2! 🤗

Let‘s connect with peers worldwide! 🌍✨

#IASP #IASPECN #ECR
Register for the 16 September Digital Networking Event hosted by the Early Career Network. Join us for a fun online networking event where you will grow your international network in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Session One: bit.ly/4lI6sZv
Session Two: bit.ly/4geEB21
September 10, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
Register for the 16 September Digital Networking Event hosted by the Early Career Network. Join us for a fun online networking event where you will grow your international network in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Session One: bit.ly/4lI6sZv
Session Two: bit.ly/4geEB21
September 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
Published open access- European Journal of Neuroscience!
🤓
My second PhD paper is a secondary analysis of the peak alpha frequency (PAF) 🧠 and pain relationship in a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) 🧲 intervention for experimental pain.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
1/5
Peak Alpha Frequency Is Not Significantly Altered by Five Days of Experimental Pain and Repetitive Transcranial Stimulation of the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex
This study explored whether the pain-relieving effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in an NGF-induced sustained pain model are associated with changes in peak alpha frequenc...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 22, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Still amazed - my friend‘s gift for my PhD defense on the cover of @painthejournal.bsky.social by @iasp.bsky.social. 🥹

It’s on the July issue where part of my PhD work is published. 📄

What a way to connect two parts of life that I love - my friendships and science. 💛

#PAIN #Research #PostdocLife
July 23, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Thanks @iasp.bsky.social and @painthejournal.bsky.social for featuring our figure! 🫶

A potential explanation for the reduced excitatory/inhibitory balance in the PAG in individuals with chronic pain. ⚖️🔴

Inspired by amazing work from R. Kuner, V. Neugebauer, P.Sheets, and more. 🙌✨

#PAIN #research
In this week’s #PAIN Featured Image, @laurasirucek.bsky.social‬ et al. present clinical evidence for altered amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-PAG connectivity patterns in chronic pain and potential consequences for PAG-driven descending pain inhibition bit.ly/4l2P2H1
July 18, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Time to get used to more rye bread 🍞, wind 😅🌬️, and hygge 🕯️☕🛋️🧣 here in 🇩🇰!

In October 2025, I’ll be starting my own 2-year project at CNAP focusing on:

🧠💥 Medial prefrontal cortex excitability in chronic pain

supported by the @snf-fns.ch Postdoc.Mobility Fellowship.

#PostdocLife #PainResearch
June 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
In our new study published in @imagingneurosci.bsky.social, Batu Kaya and others resolve a monosynaptic trigeminal-lateral parabrachial-central amygdalar circuit in humans.

direct.mit.edu/imag/article...

Now to see if it does in humans what was observed in rodents.
Delineation of the trigeminal-lateral parabrachial-central amygdala tract in humans
Abstract. The parabrachial nucleus (PBN) relays interoceptive and exteroceptive information to limbic brain regions. In particular, lateral PBN projections to the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA)...
direct.mit.edu
May 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
This one means so much to me. 🥹

My PhD "baby" - out now online ahead of print in @painthejournal.bsky.social. 🌟

We poured in so much thought, work, sweat, tears, diligence, thoroughness, and passion.

Grateful for the fantastic team and journey behind it. 🙏

dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pa...
May 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
Yesterday I had so much fun talking about my favorite topic “Epigenetics” 🧬! Its involvement in nature 🐝🐀 ♊️ and pain 😖💥! I had the opportunity to present for @pintofscience.uk in Aalborg, DK🇩🇰 #pint25

Informal and friendly environment is the best for talking science !!! 🧬 science 🧪
Better eat your royal jelly if you want to be queen! 🐝👑

Fun facts and cool science about epigenetics, environmental influences (jelly matters!), and its role in pain by @mirocco.bsky.social topped with tasty beer at yesterday‘s @pintofscience.uk festival in Aalborg! 🍻🧪

@sammy-millard.bsky.social 👀
May 20, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Better eat your royal jelly if you want to be queen! 🐝👑

Fun facts and cool science about epigenetics, environmental influences (jelly matters!), and its role in pain by @mirocco.bsky.social topped with tasty beer at yesterday‘s @pintofscience.uk festival in Aalborg! 🍻🧪

@sammy-millard.bsky.social 👀
May 20, 2025 at 7:04 AM
🎉HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CNAP! 🎉

Last week, we celebrated an incredible group of people and the impressive work they have achieved over the past 10 years.

Happy and proud to be part of this amazing CNAP family.💛🩶

Although… judging by the group photo, I might only be half part of it.😅 Can you spot me?😉🔍
May 12, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
Greetings from Lyon! IASP Early Career Network members Vandana Shree Vedartham Srinivasan, Ginevra Sperandio, Daniela Rosenberger, and Laura Sirucek from the ECN Communication Committee say ‘hello’ from #EFIC2025 – Pain in Europe XIV.
April 28, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
Wonderful time attending my first @efic.bsky.social conference in beautiful Lyon!

Some highlights:
1) sharing and getting feedback on my two posters 🧠
2) inspiring talks integrating the psyc and social aspects of pain 🤓
3) connections with research friends across the world 🗺️
4) exploring Lyon 🇫🇷
April 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
#EFIC2025 — another invaluable opportunity for both scientific and personal growth. 🌱🌿

Huge thanks to @efic.bsky.social for curating such inspiring content and for fostering a space to reconnect with old friends and create new, meaningful connections — all in stunning Lyon. 🇫🇷

A few snapshots…
April 28, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
Day two! @efic.bsky.social #EFIC2025 👏

Come to my poster, II-B.40, on a slightly different topic than usual for me 🤓

Resilience or vulnerability to pain in climbers: A survey exploring the relationships between psychological flexibility, psychological inflexibility, and pain catastrophizing 🧗‍♀️🧠
April 25, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Fun first day yesterday at @efic.bsky.social #EFIC2025! 🤩

1️⃣ Conference mode on
2️⃣ Poster #1 on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) - more below
3️⃣ Cheering for ⭐️ @sammy-millard.bsky.social
4️⃣ First congress as CNAP member 💛

🔜 Poster #2 on pressure algometry with flat vs. round tip on Sat, III-C.18
April 25, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Hey Early Career Pain Researchers/Professionals,

who's going to the @efic.bsky.social #EFIC2025 in Lyon next week? 😊
As a member of the @iasp.bsky.social #IASPECN, I am particularly looking forward to some exciting activities just for us ECRs!

Program:
tinyurl.com/3x2dpx2p

See you there?😎
April 16, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
Hello, IASP Early Career Members! The Early Career Network (ECN) is working with IASP to support you with exciting initiatives. We want your input to help shape the ECN and ensure your voice is heard. Share your ideas, concerns, and wishes with us at earlycareer@iasp-pain.org! #IASP #ECN
February 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
I thought this might be a fitting first post 🦋

After officially completing my PhD with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) early in 2024, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate my graduation back in Australia to close out 2024! 🎓🧪👩‍🔬
January 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Reposted by Laura Sirucek
Women are under-represented at senior levels in #academia globally, & across all #science 🧪 disciplines, as shown by these "scissor-shaped curves" ✂️

So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?

We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary

#WomeninSTEM

www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
November 25, 2024 at 12:38 PM
Guess it's time to share some research! 🔎

In our most recent publication in Pain Reports, we aimed to differentiate PERIPHERAL, SPINAL, and SUPRASPINAL SENSITIZATION in patients with chronic low back pain using quantitative sensory testing.

For that ... 🧵1/6

journals.lww.com/painrpts/ful...
Indication for spinal sensitization in chronic low back... : PAIN Reports
study conceptualized the most painful area (MP) of patients with nonspecific CLBP as primarily affected area and assessed signs of peripheral, spinal, and supraspinal sensitization using quantitative ...
journals.lww.com
November 26, 2024 at 10:45 AM
Kickstarting my @bsky.app #painresearch profile by sharing my biggest life change of 2024:

Started a #postdoc at the Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain #CNAP at Aalborg University #AAU - fantastic decision! 🤩

Follow if you're interested in #pain #neuroplasticity.

#research #neuroscience #brain
November 13, 2024 at 9:39 AM