# Interdisciplinary Training Program in Pain Research

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2024 · $238,280

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The United States faces a crisis due to the high prevalence of chronic pain and associated opioid use disorder
and overdose deaths. This crisis highlights the need for advanced and cross-disciplinary pain science training in
our emerging basic and clinical scientists. Thus, the goal of our training program is to enable a new generation
of young investigators with the expertise necessary to make substantial impact on pain science and treatment.
This application seeks renewal of funding for an Interdisciplinary Training Program in Pain Research at the
University of Iowa, requesting support for two predoctoral and two postdoctoral trainees for this award period.
The program has been highly successful during its 15 years of funding, providing training to pre- and postdoctoral
fellows of exemplary quality that have gone on to develop strong independent research careers in pain research
and are actively involved in pain societies world-wide. The program will continue to provide basic training in the
cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie acute and chronic pain, as well as translational and clinical pain
research. The 23 faculty of our multidisciplinary training program is a balanced representation of basic scientists,
translational and clinical scientists from 12 departments and programs across 4 colleges at the University of
Iowa. Our clinical trainers include faculty with expertise in medicine, physical therapy, and nursing, with strong
emphasis on non-pharmacological approaches to pain management. Our more senior trainers with strong record
of training both predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows will also be responsible for mentoring junior trainers. The
training program provides a highly structured and diverse program of didactic coursework, including monthly
seminars, weekly journal clubs and work-in-progress meetings, that is coupled with research training in a highly
collaborative and interactive environment. In the next funding period, we propose to add several new features to
the program that are aimed at strengthening training in rigor and reproducibility, at enhancing quantitative literacy
and competence in biostatistics, and at expanding experience-based learning in basic, translational and clinical
pain research. The specific goals of the proposed training program are to: (1) assist trainees in developing an
individualized curriculum that provides a solid knowledge base in pain science appropriate to their career goals;
(2) provide formal instruction in rigor and reproducibility in biomedical pain research, including working
knowledge in biostatistics and quantitative approaches; (3) provide rigorous training in the elements of scientific
investigation including the formulation of research hypotheses, experimental design and analysis; (4) assist
trainees in developing their written and verbal scientific communication skills; (5) enable trainees to interact and
collaborate with basic and clinical pain researchers both within...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10896137
- **Project number:** 5T32NS045549-18
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** KATHLEEN A SLUKA
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $238,280
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2004-07-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10896137

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10896137, Interdisciplinary Training Program in Pain Research (5T32NS045549-18). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10896137. Licensed CC0.

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