The Center for Translational Pain Medicine (CTPM) is transforming the way we study, diagnose, and treat painful conditions. The CTPM brings together, under one umbrella, a team of basic science and clinical researchers with complementary expertise in pain neurobiology, molecular genetics, neuroimaging, epidemiology, and bioinformatics to make exciting new discoveries in the areas of pain mechanisms and management. The CTPM extends into Duke Anesthesiology’s clinical innovative pain therapy program to achieve a common core mission of improving patient care.

Incorporating basic science, clinical research and pain management with three primary goals:

Dr. Ji in lab

Research

Understanding the pathophysiological processes that mediate persistent pain conditions and translating new discoveries into clinical practice.
University Medical students Learning About The Brain

Education

Creating high-quality educational programming for clinical and research professionals and the public.
Woman receiving facial massage

Patient Care

Providing high-quality comprehensive, primary and specialized care to individuals with a variety of acute and chronic pain conditions, including orofacial pain.

Updates & Announcements

Duke Anesthesiology Awarded Program Project Grant

Two CTPM Faculty Awarded a 2020 DREAM Innovation Grant

Pain Journal Club
First Friday of the month
12 – 1 PM | GSRBIII 6130

Stay up-to-date on the latest pain-related news, research & events:
USASP | IASP | NIH Pain Consortium | Pain Research Forum

Tradition • Innovation • Translation

CTPM News

Andrea Nackley, PhD

Fat Cells and Chronic Pain: Dr. Nackley Awarded $3M NIH Grant to Study the Link

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has awarded Duke Anesthesiology’s Andrea Nackley, PhD, a $2,973,554 R01 grant for her project titled, “Defining the Role of Peripheral Adrb3 in Chronic Pain and Inflammation.” The five-year award builds on discoveries from Nackley’s laboratory that reveal an unexpected role for fat cells, or adipocytes, in the development and persistence of chronic primary pain.
2026 SPARK Grant Recipients: Dr. Keith Van Dusen and Dr. Ruba Sajdeya

Announcing the Inaugural SPARK Recipients

Congratulations to Duke Anesthesiology’s Drs. Keith Van Dusen and Ruba Sajdeya on being selected as the first recipients of our department's Strategic Pilot Awards for Research and Knowledge Development (SPARK) Innovation Grant — Duke Anesthesiology’s newest investment in innovation, providing targeted seed funding to ignite promising ideas that bridge science, data and patient care.