A Collaboration to Study Pain

The Chronic Pain Research Consortium (CPRC) at Duquesne University is dedicated to addressing the problem of chronic pain by tailoring our multidisciplinary research efforts to the needs of patients and clinicians. The consortium itself is a unique collaborative group of patients, clinicians, and basic scientists.

  • Our combined expertise in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, molecular imaging, neuroscience, and animal behavior promote a dynamic environment to solve the complex challenges of pain management.
  • Our research priorities include cancer pain, involvement of the immune system in pain, and the interaction of stress and pain. For a more complete description of our interests please see the Research Directions page.
CPRC faculty member Dr. Jelena Janjic recently gave a TED-talk about her pain nanomedicine research.

Pain Education

As a group, CPRC does not directly see pain patients or interact with pain patients in the clinic.  However, the CPRC does recognize that one of the biggest challenges for pain treatment and research is access to information.   In the interest in helping patients, clinicians, and scientists, we have included here a very brief list of local (i.e. the Pittsburgh area), national, and international sources of information.  These websites/groups are not endorsed by or affiliated with the Chronic Pain Research Consortium or Duquesne University.   

  • Pain Research Forum
  • American Pain Society
  • American Chronic Pain Association
  • University of Pittsburgh Pain Medicine Program
  • Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research (University of Pittsburgh)
  • International Association for the Study of Pain

Jelena Janjic

Jelena Janjic

co-Director; Founder, Pain Nanomedicine

John A. Pollock

John A. Pollock

co-Director, Inflammation and Chronic Pain

Kevin Tidgewell

Kevin Tidgewell

Grants and Funding Coordinator co-Director NIH PURE Program, Natural Product Ligands to Treat Chronic Pain

Core Faculty

Michael Cascio

Michael Cascio

Structure Function of Pain Receptors

Jane Cavanaugh

Jane Cavanaugh

Neurobiology of Aging

Jordan Covvey

Jordan Covvey

Health Outcomes Pain Pharmacology

Matthew Kostek

Matthew Kostek

Muscle Physiology and Pain

Devika Manickam

Devika Manickam

Biologics Pain

Jamie McConaha

Jamie McConaha

Community Effects of Chronic Pain Treatment

Retta Martin

Retta Martin

Occupational Therapy in Pediatric Pain Management

Jane Moriarty

Jane Moriarty

Pain, Neuroscience, and the Law

Rachael Neilan

Rachael Neilan

Computational Modeling of CNS Pain Transmission

Lauren O'Donnell

Lauren O'Donnell

Viral Inflammation and Chronic Pain

Amy Phelps

Amy Phelps

Statistics in Pain and Exercise

Diane Rhodes

Diane Rhodes

Pharmacy Practice and Pain Education

Lynn Simko

Lynn Simko

Chronic Pain in Congenital Heart Disease

Kimberly Szucs

Kimberly Szucs

Occupational Therapy Research in Chronic Pain

Affiliated Faculty

Carl Anderson

Carl Anderson

New Drug Formulations for Pain

Patrick Flaherty

Patrick Flaherty

Medicinal Chemistry and Pain

Vincent Giannetti

Vincent Giannetti

Psychology and Health Outcomes in Pain

David Johnson

David Johnson

Pharmacology and Pain

Alexander Kranjec

Alexander Kranjec

Language and Pain Experience

Rehana Leak

Rehana Leak

Neurodegeneration and Pain

Christine O'Neil

Christine O'Neil

Pharmacy Practice and Pain