Pain Research Consortium: 2025 Symposium
Highlights from the 2025 Pain Management in Cancer Care Symposium
Symposia and Seminars
Pain Management in Cancer Care Symposium
The annual Advancements in Translational Science for Pain Management in Cancer Care Symposium is typically held in May. The symposium serves as a catalyst for collaborative innovation in pain sciences, bringing together experts from diverse backgrounds to address the complex challenges of cancer-related pain. This unique platform fosters interdisciplinary discussions on cutting-edge research, bridging the gap between basic science discoveries and clinical applications. At the conclusion of the symposium, attendees will be able to:
- Design interdisciplinary strategies to train the next generation of international thought leaders in pain research and clinical practice
- Describe key components of effective training programs for developing international leaders in pain research and clinical care
- Discuss emerging technologies and non-pharmacological interventions for effective pain control in cancer patients and survivors
- Synthesize translational research findings to advance personalized pain management solutions across the cancer care continuum
Neurobiology Seminar Series
The Neurobiology Seminar Series explores cutting-edge research in neurobiology. This series features prominent speakers from UT MD Anderson and other healthcare research institutions across the world, presenting the latest developments in neuroscience, neuroimmunology, neurotoxicity and cancer neuroscience.
These seminars are designed for health care professionals, researchers, students and anyone with a keen interest in neurobiology and related fields. Whether you are looking to stay informed about the latest research trends, expand your knowledge or engage in meaningful discussions with experts, these seminars provide an exceptional opportunity for learning and professional development.
Contact us if you would like to receive updates about future speakers and seminars.
Please Join Us for the Next Lecture
Identification of a Neural Basis for Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a debilitating, often lethal, restrictive-type eating disorder without an effective cure. Its underlying neural basis has remained elusive, as an animal model that recaptures all of this disorder's typical symptoms has been lacking. This presentation will describe a new animal model that displays lethal self-starvation, hyperactivity, anhedonia, social phobia, increased anxiety and sexual dimorphism, all of which represent typical anorexia nervosa symptoms.
Speaker: Qingchun Tong, Ph.D.
Professor of Molecular Medicine and Immunology, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston
Join us in person: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 ● 11 a.m.–12 p.m. CST ● Zayed Building, Z2.4040 Rooms 2 & 3
Or join us on Zoom: Meeting ID: 915 6624 0777 ● Passcode: 597209
Past Lectures
2026 Lectures
February 4, 2026
The Role of a Novel GPCR Family Mrgprs in Itch, Pain, and Innate Immunity
Xinzhong Dong, Ph.D.
Professor of Neuroscience, Dermatology, and Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
January 7, 2026
Bad to the Bone: Systemic Consequences of Pathologic Bone Destruction
Theresa A. Guise, M.D.
Distinguished Professor of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, UT MD Anderson
2025 Lectures
December 3, 2025
From Placenta to Cortex: Immune and Vascular Coordination of Fetal Brain Development During Maternal Viral Infection
Adrienne Antonson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
November 5, 2025
Targeting TIMP-1 to Promote Pain Resolution
Kyle Baumbauer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Departments of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Anesthesiology, University of Kansas Medical Center
October 1, 2025
Early-Life Cancer and Chemotherapy Lead to Cognitive Defects. Sex-Dependent Effects on Glia
Teresa M. Reyes, Ph.D.
Professor of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neurobiology and Senior Associate Dean for Basic and Translational Research, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
September 3, 2025
ASIC-Sensing Ion Channels in the Brain
Jianyang Du, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
July 30, 2025
How Microglia Sense and Regulate Neuronal Activity in Diseased Brain
Long-Jun Wu, Ph.D.
Professor and Founding Director, Center for Neuroimmunology and Glial Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Houston
July 2, 2025
Advanced Neuroimaging to Characterize Neurobehavioral Disorders
Max Wintermark, M.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Neuroradiology, UT MD Anderson
April 18, 2025
Targeted Neuroimmune Communication as a Treatment for Endometriosis-Associated Pain
Victor Fattori, Ph.D.
Research Associate, Department of Surgery, Vascular Biology Program, Boston Children's Hospital
March 7, 2025
Lipid Metabolism in Brain Tumor and Neurodegeneration
Jian Hu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Cancer Biology, UT MD Anderson
Earlier Lectures
December 6, 2024
Contributions of Autoantibodies in Lower Back Pain
David J. Clark, M.D.
Professor of Anesthesiology and Vice Chair of Academic Affairs, Stanford University
November 1, 2024
Nociceptor Neurons Control Cancer Immunosurvelliance
Sebastien Talbot, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University School of Medicine
June 7, 2024
Microglial Remodeling of the Extracellular Matrix: Outcomes on Synaptic Plasticity and Behaviour
Marie-Eve Tremblay, Ph.D.
Professor, Division on Medical Sciences, University of Victoria
May 3, 2024
Feeling the Force: PIEZO Ion Channels in Interoception
Kara Marshall, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine
March 8, 2024
Neuron, Present Yourself! Implications of CD4+ T Cell-Neuron Communication in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Diana Goode, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of New England
December 21, 2023
Painful Peripheral Neuropathy: Insights into Mechanisms, Diagnostics, and Potential Therapies
Alex Chamessian, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Fellow, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
November 3, 2023
Pain Modulation by Astrocytes and Satellite Glial Cells
Ru-Rong Ji, Ph.D.
Professor of Anesthesiology, Neurobiology, and Cell Biology, Duke University
November 4, 2022
Reza Sharif-Naeni, Ph.D.
McGill University, Montreal Quebec
September 2, 2022
Andrea Nackley, Ph.D.
Duke University
May 6, 2022
The Role of Mouse Serum-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles in Pain
Seena Ajit, Ph.D.
Drexel University College of Medicine
March 4, 2022
Genetic and Physiological Characterization of Human Dorsal Root Ganglia Neurons
Steve Davidson, Ph.D.
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
January 7, 2022
Development of PainFace Software to Quantify Spontaneous Pain from Mouse Facial Expressions
Mark Zylka, Ph.D.
UNC School of Medicine
September 3, 2021
Role of IgG in Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Camilla Svensson, Ph.D.
Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
May 7, 2021
Neuroimmune Interactions in Chronic Pain: From Clinical to Clinically-Informed Basic Science
Vivianne Tawfik, M.D., Ph.D.
Standford University School of Medicine
March 19, 2021
Opportunity for Therapeutics for Chronic Pain - Targeting Ion Channels and their Regulators
Rajesh Khanna, Ph.D.
The University of Arizona, College of Medicine
March 5, 2021
Lost in Translation: Why do Experiments Using Animal Models of Painful Neuropathies Fail To Predict Clinical Efficacy? What Can We Do To Improve Their Efficiency?
Andrew Rice, M.B.B.S., M.D., FRCP
Imperial College, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
January 8, 2021 | Inaugural Seminar
Neuro-Immune Interaction and Mitochondria in the Regulation of Nociception and Chronic Pain
Yuriy M. Usachev, Ph.D.
Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa