Fall 2025 Newsletter

Message from the Director

As you're all aware, this year UCSF has seen tremendous changes in health science funding. Since PARC's mission is to accelerate the translation of research into improved patient care in the areas of pain and addiction, we are making every effort to provide support to PARC investigators, their trainees, and support scientists.

We have developed a Strategic Plan for PARC that will pursue the following four core strategies over the next 3-5 years:

Advance scientific knowledge on the mechanisms and management of pain and addiction.
Educate the next generation of pain and addiction researchers and clinicians.
Grow and sustain PARC through enhanced fundraising and staffing.
Broadcast PARC's unique role at the intersection between pain and addiction.

With success in garnering additional resources, PARC intends to support research to develop:

A new generation of analgesics without risks of overdose or addiction
Non-invasive brain-stimulation devices to treat chronic pain and/or addiction
Long-lasting prevention and treatments for opioid and stimulant misuse.
Education of the next generation of pain and addiction researchers and clinicians.

Read on for important updates from PARC, including our 2025-2026 slate of monthly seminars, and to see where our faculty members have been making a splash in the news, receiving awards, and continuing to thrive despite the hits to pain and addiction research funding.

Thanks for being here.

Mark Schumacher, MD, PhD

Save the Date!

3rd Annual PARC Neuromodulation Symposium

April 25, 2026

UCSF Sandler Neurosciences Center, Mission Bay

PARC in the News

Recent selected accolades and publications from PARC faculty members

An article by Suzie Bergman, DDS, FTMJF entitled, "An Artificial Intelligence Tool for the Diagnosis of Facial Pain" was chosen as the Editor's Choice for the November issue of Neurosurgery
Daniel Cicccarone, MD, MPH, published Decline in US Drug Overdose Deaths by Region, Substance, and Demographics in JAMA.
Erica Langnas, MD, received the 2025 Patricia Sander Anesthesia Research Award
Prasad Shirvalkar, MD, PhD published The future of pain research: neuromodulation and surgery in Pain.

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Email us or click here to share awards and recent work!

PARC Seminars 2026

PARC is looking forward an engaging academic year of monthly seminars. We have a fantastic slate of speakers lined up. These experts will present cutting-edge research on a wide range of topics related to pain and addiction.They will share their latest findings, innovative approaches, and the implications of their work on clinical practice and public health. PARC's monthly seminars are a chance to learn, network, and collaborate with experts in the pain and addiction field. All seminars occur from 12-1pm on Wednesdays on Zoom with a few hybrid opportunities this year. Hope to see you at a seminar in 2026!