College of Dentistry | University of Florida

About the Center

Dr. Robert Yezierski
Dr. Robert Yezierski, Director

The Comprehensive Center for Pain Research (CCPR) was created in 2001 in an effort to increase the University of Florida's reputation for excellence in pain research. The purpose of the Center is to link together and coordinate clinical and basic research activities related to the onset and progression of chronic pain conditions. The ultimate goal of the CCPR is to move research to clinical application in an effort to improve pain sufferers' quality of life.

The CCPR works in partnership with resources within:

  • The College of Dentistry
  • The Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health & Health Professions, and Veterinary Medicine
  • The Institute on Aging
  • The McKnight Brain Institute

This multidisciplinary Comprehensive Center provides research and training opportunities in a variety of areas as they relate to pain. These disciplines include:

  • Molecular biology
  • Functional imaging
  • Physiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Psychology
  • Sociology

The research programs of faculty associated with the CCPR range from the study of pain molecules to the development and testing of novel pain management and prevention strategies.

An important focus of the Comprehensive Center for Pain Research is the development and testing of therapeutic interventions that will alleviate the pain of individuals with disease-driven pain that occurs secondary to cancer, stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and diabetes. The CCPR also has an active visiting speaker program, journal clubs, and an annual Pain Research Day.

Another goal of the CCPR is to draw on the diverse backgrounds of more than 50 pain investigators who are experienced in basic biomedical, behavioral and social sciences, as well as the varied health services at the University of Florida. The Center aligns the expertise of core faculty with the strengths of investigators in a number of research areas to create multidisciplinary research programs focusing on:

  • Aging and pain
  • Musculoskeletal pain
  • Visceral pain
  • Cardiac pain
  • Orofacial pain
  • Placebo effects
  • Spinal cord injury pain
  • Psychosocial aspects of pain including:
  • Sex, gender and ethnic differences in pain perception

Since 19% of Florida's population is older than 65 years old, Florida is the "bellwether state" for aging and places high importance on related areas of pain research. UF has developed diverse and strong programs in gerontology and geriatrics, including an Institute on Aging. The newly created program related to pain in the elderly offers research opportunities in an exciting new area of pain research.

The University also has a successful and historical interest in sex and gender studies, as evidenced by its participation in the Women's Health Initiative,Opens in a new window a 15-year research program sponsored by the National Institutes of Health to study causes of death and disability in postmenopausal women. This effort is complemented by new research programs in the biological, behavioral, and social science domains.

The pain research program at the University of Florida is one of the largest and most comprehensive research and training programs in the country. Quality research efforts include a postdoctoral training program focusing on Integrative and Translational Training in Pain Research.

For more information related to training and research opportunities please contact Dr. Robert Yezierski, Director, Comprehensive Center for Pain Research (ryezierski@dental.ufl.edu).

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