Barry Sessle, University of Toronto

Research

Read how they describe their research on their University of Toronto profile.

Dentistry and oral health Human physiology Neurosciences, medical and physiological and health aspects

Latest papers

Microstructural alterations of the trigeminal ganglion in chronic ocular surface pain patients: A diffusion MRI study.
NeuroImage · 2025
Dental sleep medicine: Time to incorporate sleep apnoea education in the dental curriculum.
European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe · 2020
Combination of jaw and tongue movement training influences neuroplasticity of corticomotor pathways in humans.
Experimental brain research · 2019

All 7 publications

Latest funding

Advancing knowledge and education in temporomandibular disorders to promote evidence-based clinical practice
CIHR · 2024 · Co-investigator
$19,757
Interdisciplinary perspectives on oral and facial pain and headache: unravelling the complexities for improved understanding, prevention, and management
CIHR · 2023 · Co-investigator
$20,000
Identification of the risk factors and salivary biomarkers associated with the transition from acute to chronic pain-related temporomandibular disorders as well as its persistence
CIHR · 2022 · Co-investigator
$306,000

All 8 grants and awards

7 publications.

01

Microstructural alterations of the trigeminal ganglion in chronic ocular surface pain patients: A diffusion MRI study.

Ortug A, Reyes N, Galor A, Valdes-Arias D, Karakoleva E, Talbert C, Pondelis NJ, Pattany P, Felix E, Holmes S, Zurakowski D, Sessle B, Takahashi E, Moulton EA

NeuroImage2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121309 PMID: 40554396

02

Dental sleep medicine: Time to incorporate sleep apnoea education in the dental curriculum.

Herrero Babiloni A, Beetz G, Dal Fabbro C, Martel MO, Huynh N, Masse JF, Sessle B, Lavigne GJ

European journal of dental education : official journal of the Association for Dental Education in Europe2020

DOI: 10.1111/eje.12533 PMID: 32320121

03

Combination of jaw and tongue movement training influences neuroplasticity of corticomotor pathways in humans.

Iida T, Komoda Y, Kothari M, Sekihata S, Komiyama O, Sessle B, Svensson P

Experimental brain research2019

DOI: 10.1007/s00221-019-05610-2 PMID: 31346648

04

Mechanisms of craniofacial pain.

Chichorro JG, Porreca F, Sessle B

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache2017Senior author

DOI: 10.1177/0333102417704187 PMID: 28440673

05

Repeated tongue lift movement induces neuroplasticity in corticomotor control of tongue and jaw muscles in humans.

Komoda Y, Iida T, Kothari M, Komiyama O, Baad-Hansen L, Kawara M, Sessle B, Svensson P

Brain research2015

DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.09.016 PMID: 26399776

06

Management of Patients With Refractory Angina: Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Pain Society Joint Guidelines

McGillion M, Arthur HM, Cook A, Carroll SL, Victor JC, L'Allier PL, Jolicoeur EM, Svorkdal N, Niznick J, Teoh K

Canadian Journal of Cardiology201299 citations

DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2011.07.007

07

Unrelieved pain: a crisis.

Sessle B

Pain research & management2011First author

DOI: 10.1155/2011/513423 PMID: 22184550

Advancing knowledge and education in temporomandibular disorders to promote evidence-based clinical practice

Co-investigatorCIHR2024Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Cioffi, Iacopo

Keywords: Education; Orofacial Pain; Pain; Temporomandibular Disorders

$19,757

Interdisciplinary perspectives on oral and facial pain and headache: unravelling the complexities for improved understanding, prevention, and management

Co-investigatorCIHR2023Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Principal investigators: Velly, Ana Miriam; Sharifzadeh-Amin, Maryam

Keywords: Chronic Pain; Oral And Facial Pain And Headaches; Oral Health

$20,000

Identification of the risk factors and salivary biomarkers associated with the transition from acute to chronic pain-related temporomandibular disorders as well as its persistence

Co-investigatorCIHR2022Project Grant

Principal investigators: Velly, Ana Miriam

Keywords: Acute Pain; Biomarkers; Chronic Pain; Orofacial Pain; Pain-Related Temporomandibular Disorders; Transition From Acute To Chronic Pain

$306,000

Chronic Pain Network

Co-investigatorCIHR2015SPOR Networks in Chronic Disease

Principal investigators: Buckley, David N; Hudspith, Maria; Choinière, Manon; Davis, Karen D; Diatchenko, Luda; Finley, G. A; Fréchette, Pierre; Gilron, Ian; Iorio, Alfonso; Latimer, Margot A; MacDermid, Joy C; Poulin, Patricia A; Schneider, Cyril; Stevens, Bonnie J; Stinson, Jennifer N

Keywords: Behavioural Sciences; Chronic Pain; Clinical Trials Network; Developmental Transitions; Genetic Screening; Health Policy Implementation; Patient Directed Research; Personalized Medicine; Research Network; Social Determinants Of Health

$12,450,000

Trans-Disciplinary Team Research and Training Program in Sleep and Biological Rhythms

Co-investigatorCIHR2010Team Grant: Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

Principal investigators: Horner, Richard L

Keywords: Cardiovascular; Circadian Rhythms; Development; Metabolism; Neuroscience; Respiration; Sleep

$2,000,000

Trans-Disciplinary Team Research and Training Program

Co-investigatorCIHR2009Sleep and Circadian Rhythms - Team - LOI

Principal investigators: Horner, Richard L

Keywords: Cardiovascular; Circadian Rhythms; Development; Neuroscience; Respiration; Sleep

CIHR Training Program in Health Applications of Cell Signaling in Mucosal Inflammation & Pain.

Co-investigatorCIHR2008Training Grant

Principal investigators: Ellen, Richard P; McCulloch, Christopher A

Keywords: Career Planning; Cell Signals; Ethics; Health; Inflammation; Interdisciplinary; International Network; Knowledge Translation; Pain; Team Research; Training; Translational Research

$1,950,000

Neural Mechanisms of Orofacial Function

Nominated PICIHR2008Operating Grant

Principal investigators: Sessle, Barry J

Keywords: Microstimulation; Neuron Recording; Orofacial Motor Control; Pain; Plasticity; Sensorimotor Cortex

$841,273

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Nursing
Department of Pain and Neuroscience
Surgery
Epidemiology Division
Département de santé buccale
Medicine

Co-authors at University of Toronto, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Michael McGillion

Nursing

1 shared papers, latest 2012

Sandra Carroll

Nursing

1 shared papers, latest 2012

Kevin Teoh

Surgery

1 shared papers, latest 2012

Michael McGillion

Epidemiology Division

1 shared papers, latest 2012

Nelly Huynh

Département de santé buccale

1 shared papers, latest 2020

Nelly Huynh

Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2020

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mention

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Dentistry and oral health Dear Professor Sessle, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Microstructural alterations of the trigeminal ganglion in chronic ocular surface pain patients: A diffusion MRI study." (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]