CACPR Symposium
8th Annual CACPR Symposium: Novel Alternative Methods of Studying and Treating Pain
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026
9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Southern Management Companies Campus Center
621 W. Lombard St., Baltimore MD 21201
co-chaired by Yang Wang, PhD; Nathan Cramer, PhD; and Ohannes Melemedjian, PhD
The symposium will bring together leading scientists, clinicians, and trainees to explore innovative approaches to pain research and treatment through keynote lectures, panel discussions, and poster presentations.
Featured speakers include Inna Belfer (NCCIH), Michael Burton Jr. (University of Texas at Dallas), and Michael Smith (Johns Hopkins University), who will share cutting-edge advances in preclinical and clinical pain research. The event offers a unique opportunity to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, engage with experts, and showcase emerging research in the field of pain science.
Agenda
|
Time |
Event |
|---|---|
|
8 - 9 a.m. |
Registration and Breakfast |
|
9 - 9:20 |
Welcome and Opening |
|
9:20 - 10 |
Keynote Lecture Keynote Lecture 1: Innovative Whole-Person Approaches to Pain Management: NIH Priorities and Future Directions Inna Belfer, MD, PhD |
|
10 - 11 |
Keynote Lecture 2: Neuroimmune Mechanisms Mediating Sex Differences in Pain and Comorbidities Michael Burton Jr., PhD |
|
11 - 11:30 |
Coffee Break |
|
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. |
Panel Discussion 1 Moderator: Ohannes Melemedjian, PhD Panelists: Inna Belfer, MD, PhD; Michael Burton Jr., PhD; Brian Herb, PhD; and Yajie (Kevin) Yang, MD, PhD |
|
12:30 - 2:30 |
Lunch and Poster Viewing and Competition Poster Competition Moderator: Nathan Cramer, PhD |
|
2:30 - 3:30 |
Keynote Lecture 3: The Sleep, Pain, Affect, and Opioid Tetrad Michael Smith, PhD |
|
3:30 - 4:30 |
Panel Discussion 2 Novel Clinical and Therapeutic Approaches for Pain Research Moderator: Yang Wang, PhD Panelists: Michael Smith, PhD; Kelly E. Dunn, PhD, MBA; Amber Kleckner, PhD; and Rachel V. Aaron, PhD |
|
4:30 - 4:40 |
Award Ceremony |
|
4:40 |
Closing |
