Assistant Professor of Biology Elena Tonc recently received funding from the National Vulvodynia Association (NVA) to study the pathophysiology of vulvodynia and identify therapeutic targets for this chronic pain condition. She said vulvodynia affects roughly 10% of cisgender women and remains inadequately understood, with limited effective treatment options at this time.
Tonc’s research focuses on how repeated exposure to certain environmental chemicals can trigger changes in the immune system and long-lasting sensitivity to touch. It provides a model for investigating neuroinflammatory changes in both peripheral tissues and the central nervous system.
At Hamilton, undergraduate students will play an integral role in the project, participating in experimental design, data collection, and analysis. “Through this work, students will gain hands-on experience in immunology and neurobiology research while contributing to efforts to improve treatment strategies for chronic pain,” Tonc said.
Posted April 22, 2026
