Massachusetts General Hospital

BiographyThe Mass General Center for Translational Pain Research is devoted to translational research on pain mechanisms and pain treatment. The Center is interested in technology transfer and intellectual property development in pain management.

In the clinical area, we are interested in studying the clinical neurobiology of neuropathic and inflammatory pain and exploring novel pharmacological and interventional approaches for the management of various clinical pain conditions. We have been extensively involved in studying the cellular mechanisms and clinical features of opioid-induced pain, opioid tolerance and addiction.

In the preclinical area, we are interested in studying:

• the neural and molecular mechanisms of neuropathic pain, opioid tolerance, and opioid-induced hyperalgesia;
• the role of endogenous cannabinoids in the modulation of neuropathic pain;
• the role of central glucocorticoid receptors in the neural and molecular mechanisms of pain and opioid tolerance;
• peripheral and central mechanisms of burn-induced pain and low back pain.

ResearchDr. Mao is the Vice Chair for Research at the MGH Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and the Director of the MGH Center for Translational Pain Research.  Dr. Mao is the Richard J. Kitz Professor of Anesthesia Research, Harvard Medical School.  His research interests are related to the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer-related pain, neuropathic pain, back and neck pain as well as opioid tolerance, dependence, and addiction.  Dr. Mao's research projects have been well funded by the National Institutes of Health and other sources.

Link to the MGH Center for Translational Pain Research: http://www2.massgeneral.org/painresearch/

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