2026 Maixner Pain Research Symposium - Click to learn more and register.

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

Ru-Rong Ji, PhD

Dr. Ji Receives Founders Award

Congratulations to Ru-Rong Ji, PhD, on being selected as the 2020 recipient of the American Academy of Pain Medicine Founders Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the science or practice of pain medicine.
Drs. Martucci, Yurashevich, and Yurashevich

Introducing the 2020 DREAM Innovation Grant Recipients

Congratulations to Drs. Andrey Bortsov, Katherine Martucci and Mary Yurashevich on receiving a DIG at this year’s Duke Anesthesiology ASA Alumni Event for their cutting-edge research. Learn more about them and the focus of their DIG projects.
Ravikanth Velagapudi, PhD

2019 Research Germinator Awards Announced

Congratulations to Ravikanth Velagapudi, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in Dr. Niccolò Terrando’s Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Outcomes Laboratory, on being named one of the 14 award recipients by the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences.
Niccolò Terrando, PhD

Dr. Terrando Awarded Alzheimer’s Association Grant

Congratulations to Niccolò Terrando, PhD, on receiving $150,000 in funding to study whether vagus nerve stimulation can modulate central nervous system lymphatics to possibly prevent surgery-induced neuroinflammation and delirium-like behavior.
Padma Gulur, MD

Dr. Gulur Appointed to New DUHS Position

Congratulations to Padma Gulur, MD, on her new role as director of pain management strategy and opioid surveillance in which she will provide direction, coordination and leadership for associated programs across the Duke University Health System.
Niccolò Terrando, PhD

Dr. Terrando Receives New Investigator Award

Congratulations to Niccolò Terrando, PhD, on being named the 2019 New Investigator Award recipient by the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment (ISTAART).
Andrea Nackley, PhD

Dr. Nackley Receives Prestigious R01 Award

Congratulations to Andrea Nackley, PhD, on being awarded a 5-year, $3,846,094 NIH grant to conduct a multi-site clinical trial aimed at determining optimal therapies for patients suffering from a complex chronic vulvar pain condition.