Opioid & Pain
Combatting the Opioid Epidemic

Working across disciplines to minimize pain and reduce the impact of addictive opioid drugs

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One of the basic tenets of medicine is the lessening of pain, and unfortunately for many, has led to an epidemic in the use of powerful and addicting analgesics known as opioids.

Michigan Medicine researchers are leading the field in researching evidence-based ways to more responsibly prescribe these drugs and to help patients living with opioid use disorders. Our scientists are also actively exploring effective alternative pain relievers that can help people live lives with less suffering.

Michigan Medicine is home to several initiatives dedicated to researching opioids and pain:

Opioid & Pain Researchers
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portrait of Vinay Aakalu, MD, MPH Vinay Aakalu
Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
portrait of Ahmed Abdel-Latif Ahmed Abdel-latif
Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Program Director, Internal Medicine
portrait of James L. Abelson James L Abelson
Professor of Psychiatry and Program Director
Academic Director Ambulatory Psychiatry
Psychiatry
Lindsay Admon headshot Lindsay K Admon, MD, MSc, FACOG
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Prachi Pragya Agarwal Prachi Pragya Agarwal, MBBS, MD, MS
Kyung J Cho Collegiate Professor of Radiology
Clinical Professor of Radiology and Section Head
Cardiothoracic Radiology
portrait of William R. Aibinder William R Aibinder, MD, FAAOS
Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Medical Student Clerkship Director, Orthopaedic Surgery
ailawadi-gorav.jpg Gorav Ailawadi
Helen F and Marvin M Kirsh Professor of Cardiac Surgery
Chair, Department of Cardiac Surgery
Co-Director, Frankel Cardiovascular Center
Professor of Cardiac Surgery
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
portrait of Huda Akil Huda Akil
Gardner C Quarton Distinguished University Professor of Neurosciences
Gardner C Quarton Collegiate Professor of Neurosciences in the Molecular and Behavioral Neurosciences Institute
Professor of Psychiatry and Research Professor
Michigan Neuroscience Institute
Ilyas S. Aleem MD Ilyas S Aleem, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FAAOS
Clinical Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Clinical Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
Medical Director, MPLAN
Medical Director, UMMG
Program Assistant, Resident Research, Orthopaedic Surgery
neil alexander Neil B Alexander
Ivan Duff M.D. Collegiate Professor of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine and Research Professor
Institute of Gerontology
portrait of BARA ALSALAHEEN Bara Alsalaheen
Research Assistant Professor
Neurology
Sapan N. Ambani Sapan N Ambani, MD
Associate Professor of Urology
Program Associate, Urology
Senior Medical Director, FGP Operations
UMMG Ambulatory Surgery
Residency Program
Core Educational Lead
Latest Publications
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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signal Variability Is Associated With Neuromodulation in Fibromyalgia
Lim, M, Kim, DJ, Nascimento, TD, Ichesco, E, Kaplan, C, Harris, RE, DaSilva, AF, Neuromodulation, 2023 Jul; DOI:10.1111/ner.13512
PMID: 34309138
Knowledge, Perceptions, and Use of Psychedelics among Individuals with Fibromyalgia
Glynos, NG, Pierce, J, Davis, AK, McAfee, J, Boehnke, KF, J Psychoactive Drugs, 2023 Jan; DOI:10.1080/02791072.2021.2022817
PMID: 35001856
Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation Improved the Quality of Life in Patients With Diarrhea-Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Hu, P, Sun, K, Li, H, Qi, X, Gong, J, Zhang, Y, Xu, L, Lin, M, Fan, Y, Chen, JDZ, Neuromodulation, 2022 Dec; DOI:10.1016/j.neurom.2021.10.009
PMID: 35088760
Cortical mechanisms of visual hypersensitivity in women at risk for chronic pelvic pain.
Kmiecik, MJ, Tu, FF, Silton, RL, Dillane, KE, Roth, GE, Harte, SE, Hellman, KM, Pain, 2022 Jun; DOI:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002469
PMID: 34510138
Impacts of an Opioid Safety Initiative on US Veterans Undergoing Cancer Treatment
Vitzthum, LK, Nalawade, V, Riviere, P, Marar, M, Furnish, T, Lin, LA, Thompson, R, Murphy, JD, J Natl Cancer Inst, 2022 May; DOI:10.1093/jnci/djac017
PMID: 35078240
Patient Perspectives on Improving Patient-Provider Relationships and Provider Communication During Opioid Tapering
Kosakowski, S, Benintendi, A, Lagisetty, P, Larochelle, MR, Bohnert, ASB, Bazzi, AR, J Gen Intern Med, 2022 May; DOI:10.1007/s11606-021-07210-9
PMID: 34993861
A phase 1 study to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and anti-tumor activity of the androgen receptor n-terminal domain inhibitor epi-506 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Maurice-Dror, C, Le Moigne, R, Vaishampayan, U, Montgomery, RB, Gordon, MS, Hong, NH, DiMascio, L, Perabo, F, Chi, KN, Invest New Drugs, 2022 Apr; DOI:10.1007/s10637-021-01202-6
PMID: 34843005
Pain Management and Risks Associated With Substance Use: Practice Recommendations
Turner, HN, Oliver, J, Compton, P, Matteliano, D, Sowicz, TJ, Strobbe, S, St Marie, B, Wilson, M, Pain Manag Nurs, 2022 Apr; DOI:10.1016/j.pmn.2021.11.002
PMID: 34965906
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