School Hosts Translational Pain Research Gala and Symposium

The UNC School of Dentistry Regional Center for Neurosensory Disorders (RCNSD) is hosting its first Translational Pain Gala and Symposium today, October 18.

“Being able to hold this symposium here in Chapel Hill is something we’re really proud of,” said Dr. Bill Maixner, director of RCNSD. “By getting some of the thought- and research-leaders in pain study together in one place, we’re able to engage in a knowledge share about pain management that’s unprecedented at this time.”

The symposium, which is occurring from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Koury Oral Health Sciences, will feature four distinguished speakers. These speakers include Dr. Ronald Dubner, professor in the Department of Neural and Pain Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry; Dr. Jon Levine, director of the NIH Pain Center from the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry; Dr. Stephen McMahon, professor of physiology at the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases at King’s College London; and Dr. Dennis Turk, director of the Center for Pain Research on Impact, Measurement and Effectiveness at the University of Washington. All four featured presentations will occur before lunch in the Kirkland Auditorium.

Following the presentations, attendees will have lunch and then have the opportunity to tour RCNSD’s new facilities. The center moved into its new space in April following the opening of Koury Oral Health Sciences.

“This is an exciting time in pain research,” said Maixner. “We’re learning more each day about the genetic, biological, physiological and environmental factors that may influence the development of chronic pain. That, in turn, means we’re learning how to better treat these conditions. Symposiums like this are critical to continuing the exchange of ideas and research to better understand pain disorders.”