Abstract: The Du Bois lab is interested in the molecular physiology of sodium channels in electrogenesis and nociception, work that may ultimately inform the development of new analgesic medicines. Our studies rely on molecular biology and electrophysiology to measure ionic currents in cells and capitalize on the availability of potent neurotoxins and derivatives thereof as selective reagents for manipulating channel function. This lecture will focus specifically on efforts to ‘map’ toxin-channel receptor sites and to design small molecule tool compounds that target and enable regulation of select channel subtypes.