When you or someone you love has a migraine, the immense pain they experience becomes extremely clear. Researchers at The University of Arizona understand the pain migraine sufferers undergo and are working on finding a way to target and alleviate this pain.

Unfortunately, scientists still do not fully understand the neurological mechanisms that lead to migraine pain, which is why many sufferers have little relief from current migraine pharmaceuticals. To combat this problem, UA researchers in the pharmacology laboratories of Dr. Frank Porreca and Dr. Todd Vanderah are studying the underlying mechanisms that cause migraine sufferers such immense pain.

Gilbert native, Gayle Bentley, has been working in this laboratory along side other researchers this summer to help the cause. Gayle is a graduate of Gilbert High School and is now a senior at UA majoring in microbiology.

Gayle's research in this lab focuses on a specific neurotransmitter that is suspected to be involved with migraines. When asked about her research, Gayle responded, "I hope that my research here this summer can help scientists to find a way to better help migraine sufferers."

The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics through the UBRP program partially funded Gayle's research this summer.