Dr. Karin N Westlund | Chronic Pain Relief | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Karin N. Westlund High is a distinguished neuroscientist and physiologist, currently a Distinguished Professor at UNM School of Medicine and a Research Physiologist at NM VA Health Care. She is recognized for her groundbreaking work in pain mechanisms and translational neurobiology. Her leadership as Vice Chair for Research and longstanding academic contributions span over four decades, advancing the fields of anesthesiology, neuroscience, and chronic pain treatment.

Profile

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Education

Dr. Westlund High earned a B.A. (Zoology) from the University of Texas at Austin (1975), followed by an M.A. in Zoology (1976). She received her Ph.D. in Physiology & Biophysics from UTMB Galveston in 1981. During her graduate and postdoctoral years, she developed strong expertise in pain pathways and biophysics. Her education laid a solid foundation for her influential career in academic medicine and neuroscience research.

Experience

From 1982 to the present, Dr. Westlund High has held key roles: tenured professor at UTMB Galveston, University of Kentucky, and UNM. She was also Vice Chair for Research at UNM Anesthesiology (2017–2024) and served in VA medical systems in KY & NM. She led cell biology graduate programs, taught extensively in medicine and dentistry, and contributed to national research ethics.

Awards & Recognitions

Dr. Westlund High is the recipient of over 20 prestigious honors, including the Frederick W.L. Kerr Award (2008) , Innovator of the Year (2023), and multiple NIH awards. She’s been honored for teaching, research excellence, and innovation, including winning EQUALIZE Pitch Competition and a U.S. patent award (2025). She has served on editorial boards and grant panels globally, shaping pain research.

Research Interests

Her research centers on pain neurobiology —investigating trigeminal nerve injury, chronic pain, neuroinflammation, and targeted therapeutic antibodies. With deep NIH and VA support, she has led studies using translational animal models to discover novel pain relief methods. Her work impacts both clinical and preclinical pain management, with over 40 years of translational insights and innovation.