Evaluating Mind-Body Therapies for Chronic Pain Syndromes: A Translational Approach
Date and Time
Mind-body therapies (MBTs)—such as yoga—offer promising non-pharmacological approaches for managing chronic pain syndromes, which often arise from complex interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors. Yet, the biological mechanisms underlying the effects of MBTs remain poorly understood. In this talk, Dr. Muñoz-Vergara will present a translational approach that integrates preclinical and clinical studies to examine how MBTs may influence physiological processes contributing to the reduction or resolution of chronic pain.
The presentation will trace this continuum of research—from experimental in vivo and ex vivo models of stretching and inflammation resolution, to pilot human studies investigating the acute physiological effects of yoga, to large-scale epidemiologic analyses linking physical activity to immune outcomes.
Finally, Dr. Muñoz-Vergara will discuss his NIH-funded K01 project, Persistent Relief, a feasibility randomized controlled trial testing yoga versus chronic pain health education in patients with persistent post-surgical pain. Together, these studies aim to inform the integration of MBTs into pain medicine by identifying mechanistic biomarkers and refining personalized, whole-person treatment strategies.
Speaker: Dr. Muñoz-Vergara (Osher Center Postdoctoral Research Fellow)
Sponsors: RCCHU; Harvard University