Dr. John Kramer

Principal Investigator

B.Sc. [Kinesiology] (University of Calgary)
M.Sc. [Neuroscience] (University of Western Ontario)
Ph.D. [Neuroscience] (University of British Columbia)
Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia

 

Research Interests

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Dr. Kramer’s current research interests are focused on understanding the relationships between spinal cord injuries and neuropathic pain. Historically, pain has been measured from “yes or no” scores generated from pinprick stimulation. This approach, however, represents only one way that peripheral touch can be interpreted by the spinal cord sensory pathway. Dr. Kramer has made several important contributions to the validation of a newer technique known as Contact Heat Evoked Potential stimulation (CHEPs). CHEPs provides recordings of electrical signals reaching the brain, allowing complementary information regarding the spinal cord sensory pathway to be identified.

As part of Dr. Kramer’s ongoing research program, advanced neuroimaging and quantitative sensory testing techniques will continue to be developed to better understand how changes in the central nervous system (CNS) relate to the development of neuropathic pain. Using large SCI datasets, he is exploring the relationship between pain, neurological recovery, and other secondary health outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular disease). His research program will enable implementation of novel interventions aimed at improving outcomes and quality of life for people with SCI.

On September 1, 2020, Dr. Kramer became an Assistant Professor with the Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics at the University of British Columbia. He majored in Kinesiology for his B.Sc. undergraduate degree major at the University of Calgary, and then turned his focus to neuroscience for graduate research. He obtained a M.Sc. degree from the University of Western Ontario and completed his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Kramer spent the next two years as a postdoctoral fellow, first at the Spinal Cord Injury Center in Uniklinic Balgrist (University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland), and then as a Senior Research Fellow at the Hulse Spinal Cord Injury Laboratory in the Shepherd Center (Atlanta, Georgia, USA). From 2014 to 2020, he was an Assistant Professor in UBC’s School of Kinesiology.

Dr. Kramer says he enjoys his time at ICORD because of the diverse research interests among principal investigators and trainees.  He adds that “there are not many facilities like ICORD in the world, where international experts are brought together in preclinical and clinical SCI research. With the expertise and facilities all in one building, it is an amazing opportunity to perform the highest level of research.”

Currently recruiting for:

Pain sensitivity and brain chemistry in participants without chronic pain

Are you interested in getting your brain scanned? Researchers in Dr. John Kramer’s lab are recruiting participants (ages 19-45) not diagnosed with chronic pain, spinal cord injury, or other major health conditions for an Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/Magnetic resonance spectroscopy Read More...

Neuropathic pain relief after spinal cord injury – a study using heat (capsaicin) cream

Researchers in Dr. Kramer’s lab are investigating if low concentration capsaicin (the active ingredient in chili peppers) cream applied for extended periods of time (20+ days) will help manage neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury. Participants will be asked to Read More...

Recent Collaborations:

Dr. Kramer is working closely with Dr. Corree Laule to integrate advanced anatomical MRI into the assessment of damage in the spinal cord after injury. The goal of this collaboration is to leverage Dr. Laule’s experience in the field of Multiple Sclerosis, and translate new imaging techniques into the field of SCI. He hopes to begin collecting data in individuals with SCI in the next few months. He also has collaborations with colleagues at the University Hospital Balgrist in Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Kramer is a member of the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and the Hugill Anesthesia Research Centre.

Major Findings:

Dr. Kramer’s research has repeatedly shown that spinal cord sensory pathways can be examined with a variety of quantitative techniques sensitive to minor changes in sensory impairments. Furthermore, his work using evoked potentials has shown improved potential for tracking changes in sensory function corresponding to individual spinal segments.  He is in the process of finalizing plans for his next phase of research efforts with Dr. Corree Laule.

Techniques employed in lab:

  • Electroencephalography (EEG, a technique for measuring electrical activity in the brain)
  • Electrophysiological recordings (e.g., somatosensory and contact heat evoked potentials)
  • Anatomical and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Questionnaires to assess neurological function (e.g., International Standards for the Neurological Classification of SCI).

Awards:

Some of Dr. Kramers’s recent major awards and accomplishments include:

  • Scholar, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, 2014
  • North American Spine Society, Clinical & Research Travelling Fellowship, 2014
  • Scholar, Clinical Research Pillar, (jointly funded by the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and the Rick Hansen Institute), 2014
  • Post-Doctoral Fellowship, International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia, 2011
  • Trainee Award, Rick Hansen Institute, 2008

Trainee Awards

Year Name Award
2022 Dr. Lukas Linde 1st Place Best Poster Award (12th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit)
2022 Nicole Bailey 3-Minute Thesis Heat 1st Place Oral Presentation (VCHRI / Faculty of Medicine)
2022 Nicole Bailey Oral Presentation Award Winner (12th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit)
2022 Paul Aspinall Poster Presentation Award Winner (12th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit)
2022 Himali Bergeron-Vitez Oral Presentation Award Winner (12th Annual Whistler Anesthesiology Summit)
2021 Dr. Lukas Linde Spinal cord injury research on the translational spectrum (SCRIPTS) – Postdoctoral fellowship (Craig Neilson Foundation)
2021 Dr. Lukas Linde Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Paul Aspinall Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Cassandra Choles Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Himali Bergeron-Vitez Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Jaimie Lee Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Jaimie Lee Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC)
2021 Jessica Archibald Trainee Professional Development Award
2021 Jessica Archibald Graduate Student Scholarship (The Province of BC)
2021 Jessica Archibald 3MT Rising Star Award (VCHRI), Society of NEuroscience
2021 Freda Warner ICORD Annual Research Meeting Poster Award (ICORD)
2021 Jessica Archibald Friedman Award for Scholars in Health (UBC)
2021 Jessica Archibald Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Nicole Bailey Trainee Travel Award (Canadian Pain Society)
2021 Nicole Bailey Lived Experience Scholarship (Canadian Pain Society)
2021 Nicole Bailey Trainee Travel Award (ICORD)
2021 Jessie McDougall Rising Star Award (VCHRI)
2020 Jessie McDougall UBC Rehabilitation Sciences Alumni Jane Hudson Scholarship in Physical Therapy (UBC)
2020 Hannah Goodings Graduate Student Research Grant (School of Kinesiology, UBC)
2020 Hannah Goodings Top Poster Presentation (ICORD Trainee Symposium)
2020 Jessica Archibald Postgraduate Scholarships- Doctoral program (NSERC)
2020 Jessica Archibald Friedman Award for Scholars in Health (UBC)

Current Lab Members

Undergraduate Students Masters Students Ph.D. Students Postdoctoral Fellows Research Staff
Jaimie Lee Nicole Bailey Jessica Archibald Dr. Freda Warner Oscar Ortiz
Rohan Banga* Cassandra Choles Jessie McDougall Dr. Lukas Linde Bobo Tong
Rachel McGregor Himali Bergeron-Vitez Kevin Liu*
Paul Aspinall Emmanuel Ogalo

*has graduated in the past year

Current Opportunities in Lab:

Interested students should contact Dr. Kramer with inquiries.

Opportunities:

Recent publications

  • Vo, AK et al.. 2023. Race-based reporting and participation of Black individuals in registered pain clinical trials, United States, 2000 to 2019.. Pain. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002893.
  • Jutzeler, CR et al.. 2023. Pharmacological management of acute spinal cord injury: a longitudinal multi-cohort observational study.. Sci Rep. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-31773-8.
  • Linde, LD, Ortiz, O, Choles, CM, Kramer, JLK. 2023. Pain-related gamma band activity is dependent on the features of nociceptive stimuli: a comparison of laser and contact heat.. J Neurophysiol. doi: 10.1152/jn.00357.2022.
  • Todd, KR et al.. 2021. The Impact of Sub-maximal Exercise on Neuropathic Pain, Inflammation, and Affect Among Adults With Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study.. Front Rehabil Sci. doi: 10.3389/fresc.2021.700780.
  • Archibald, J, Ortiz, O, Enzler, A, Rosner, J, Kramer, JLK. 2022. Supraspinal facilitation to repetitive painful stimulation: a laser-evoked potential study.. J Neurophysiol. doi: 10.1152/jn.00283.2022.
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