David Julius, PhD Keynote Presentation: “Gut Feelings: Probing Mechanisms of Visceral Pain” Photo credit: BBVA Foundation |
Dr. David Julius, a native of New York City, received his undergraduate degree from MIT, where he worked with Alexander Rich studying mechanisms of tRNA aminoacylation. He then moved to the UC Berkeley for graduate studies with Jeremy Thorner and Randy Schekman, elucidating mechanisms of peptide hormone processing and secretion in yeast, followed by postdoctoral studies with Richard Axel at Columbia University, where he identified genes encoding members of the serotonin receptor family. David then joined the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco, where he is currently Chair of the Department of Physiology. His research is focused on understanding molecular mechanisms of pain and sensory adaptation. The Julius group has exploited the properties of natural products to discover a family of thermo- and chemo-sensitive ion channels that enable sensory nerve fibers to detect hot or cold temperatures and other noxious stimuli. With the aid of genetic, electrophysiological, and behavioral methods, they have determined how these ion channels contribute to pain sensation, and how channel activity is modulated in response to tumor growth, infection, or other forms of injury that produce inflammation and pain hypersensitivity.
Dr. Julius has served as a member of the NINDS / NIH Advisory Council (2014 – 2017), the HHMI Board of Trustees (2021- present), and as Editor of the Annual Review of Physiology (2007-2018). Among other awards, David has received the Shaw Prize in Life Sciences and Medicine (2010), the Canada Gairdner International Award (2017), the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2020), and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2021).
Benedict Alter, MD, PhD Presentation Title: “Pathways to Pain Relief: Endogenous Pain Modulation in Musculoskeletal Pain” |
Dr. Benedict Alter is a physician-scientist studying the mechanisms and clinical impact of pain modulation with the goal of improving pain management. He is Assistant Professor and Director of Translational Pain Research in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. His research projects focus on the role of endogenous pain modulation in chronic pain and identifying ways to leverage pain dampening systems for novel pain therapies and biomarkers.
Sean P. Farris, PhD Presentation Title: “Studying the Intersection of Addiction and Pain” |
Dr. Sean Farris is a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Center for Neuroscience, and Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research. He received his PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Virginia Commonwealth University and completed postdoctoral training at the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research at the University of Texas at Austin. His research has been continuously funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, including a prestigious NIH Pathway to Independent Award. Overall, he uses a combination of approaches to conduct collaborative and innovative cellular and behavioral research to identify novel molecular mechanisms and potential treatments for human disorders.
Bin He, PhD Presentation Title: “Treating Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease Using Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation” |
Dr. Bin He is a Trustee Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Professor of the Neuroscience Institute, and Professor by courtesy of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. His active research interests center on noninvasive neurotechnology, including transcranial-focused ultrasound neuromodulation, electrophysiological source imaging, and brain-computer interfaces. His work seeks to advance the understanding of brain functions and improve the management of neurological disorders, such as pain and epilepsy. Dr. He’s contributions have been recognized by multiple awards, including the IEEE Biomedical Engineering Award, the IEEE BMBS William J Morlock Award, the IEEE EMBS Academic Career Achievement Award, and the Earl Bakken Lecture Award from the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Dr. He is an elected Fellow of the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering, National Academy of Inventors, AIMBE, and BMES, and IEEE.
Jelena M. Janjic, PhD Presentation Title: “Pain Nanomedicine - Patient Experience Inspired Innovation” |
Dr. Jelena M. Janjic (“Dr. J”) is a tenured Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics and a Founder/Co-Director of the Chronic Pain Research Consortium at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, USA. The primary focus of her research is quality by design of nanoimaging agents and theranostic nanomedicines. She has been designing and developing imaging and drug delivery platforms since 2006, resulting in four patents, more than 80 publications, and numerous invited presentations at national and international meetings. Her work has received innovator awards and has been supported by NIH, USAF, CDMRP, and ARPA-H grants. Her research interests lie at the intersection of the immune and peripheral nervous systems and its implications in neuromuscular, inflammatory, and trauma pain. Dr. Janjic’s work on pain nanomedicine has been featured by NPR News and received multiple recognitions, including the Pittsburgh Business Times Innovator Award. Over the past 18 years, Dr. Janjic has focused on designing and developing immunomodulatory nanotechnology. These technologies have been successfully validated in small and large animal models of neuroinflammation, neuroregeneration, and pain. Dr. Janjic teaches medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, and graduate-level laboratory courses focusing on quality-by-design approaches to nanomedicine and biomaterials manufacturing. She is also an artist with broad interests, from contemporary music composition and performance to writing fiction.
Olubusola Bolaji Oluwole, MD Presentation Title: “Beyond Medications: Behavioral Interventions for Managing Sickle Cell Pain in Women” |
Dr. Olubusola Oluwole is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Classical Hematology at UPMC. She earned her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where she also completed a master’s degree and her internal medicine residency through the Global Health Track. She then completed her fellowship at the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center before returning to UPMC as faculty.
Dr. Oluwole’s research focuses on improving health outcomes in individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) with a particular emphasis on reducing pain burden in women with SCD, especially during high-risk periods. Her overarching goal is to develop innovative strategies to improve health outcomes and quality of life for people living with SCD.
Nam Vo, PhD Presentation Title: “Deep Phenotyping of Chronic Low Back Pain Through Biomarker Profiling” |
Dr. Nam Vo received his PhD degree with Dr. Michael Chamberlin in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the University of California at Berkeley in 1998. He completed his post-doctoral training with the Howard Hughes Investigator Dr. Michael Lai at the University of Southern California in 2003. Dr. Vo is currently Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Deputy Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also Co-Director of the Ferguson Laboratory for Spine Research and Scientific Director of the Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center, both of which have diverse representation from experts in Orthopaedic Surgery, Physiatry, Physical Therapy, and Bioengineering, performing highly inter-disciplinary musculoskeletal research. His research program investigates the biology of spinal aging and its contribution to low back pain, with a major emphasis on deep phenotyping of chronic low back pain through biomarker profiling.