Anna Malykhina, PhD

I am a trained physiologist/electrophysiologist with over 25 years of experience in the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tracts, and currently lead the Basic and Translational Urology Research Program in the Division of Urology, Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. My research interests are focused on the mechanisms of chronic pelvic pain, pelvic organ cross-sensitization, dysfunctional voiding, detrusor over- and underactivity, interplay between urologic and nervous systems, and neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

The research in my laboratory has been continuously funded by the NIH/NIDDK, and we use a variety of “state-of-the-art” techniques including survival rodent surgeries, retrograde fluorescent tracers, pharmacogenetic modulation of neuronal and glial function by DREADDs, immunohistochemistry, awake cystometry, in vitro contractility studies, patch clamp recordings, cell cultures, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches, imaging and behavioral experiments. The laboratory also provides resources and support for training undergraduate and graduate students, residents and postdoctoral fellows interested in urological research.

Outside of work, I enjoy advanced yoga classes, cooking, gardening, as well as biking, hiking, skiing and horseback riding with my husband and kids.