Karin N Westlund | Chronic Pain Relief | Best Researcher Award

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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

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. 💥📈

Publications 

  • Role of HDAC5 Epigenetics in Chronic Craniofacial Neuropathic Pain

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    2024-06 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136889
    CONTRIBUTORS: Sifong Elise Hui; Karin N Westlund

  • Pluripotential GluN1 (NMDA NR1): Functional Significance in Cellular Nuclei in Pain/Nociception

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    2023-08 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713196
    CONTRIBUTORS: Terry A. McNearney; Karin N Westlund

  • Rapid Generation and Molecular Docking Analysis of Single-Chain Fragment Variable (scFv) Antibody Selected by Ribosome Display Targeting Cholecystokinin B Receptor (CCK-BR) for Reduction of Chronic Neuropathic Pain

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    2023-07 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311035
    CONTRIBUTORS: Adinarayana Kunamneni; Marena A. Montera; Ravi Durvasula; Dr Sascha Alles; Sachin Goyal; Karin N Westlund

Laura Brown | Caregiver Quality of Life | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Laura Brown | Caregiver Quality of Life | Best Researcher Award

Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago ,United States

Dr Józef Sadkiewicz graduated in 2000 from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz. He obtained his doctoral degree in 2006 from the Faculty of Biotechnology and Agriculture at the J.J. Śniadecki Bydgoszcz University of Technology. Since 2000, he has served as the President of the Management Board at the Institute of Bakeries Instruments, specialising in engineering and measurement-control equipment for the food and chemical industries.

Profile

Education:

Professor Józef Flizikowski graduated in 1976 from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the J.J. Śniadecki Bydgoszcz University of Technology. In 1984, he obtained his doctorate from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Gdańsk University of Technology and, in 1991, completed his habilitation at the Faculty of Production Engineering at the University of Agriculture in Lublin. In 1997, he was awarded the academic title of Professor of Technical Sciences. His specialisation includes the design and operation of machinery for the chemical, food, and energy industries. He is now retired.

Scientific Publications

  • Optimizing the Team Approach: Designing a Clinical Care Pathway for Functional Neurological Disorder

    Journal for Healthcare Quality
    2024-09 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000445

  • Use of the Assessment of Caregiver Experience with Neuromuscular Disease (ACEND) in Spinal Muscular Atrophy

    Journal of Clinical Medicine
    2024-02 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.3390/jcm13040921
    CONTRIBUTORS: Laura Brown; Katie Hoffman; Chiara Corbo-Galli; Siyuan Dong; Katelyn Zumpf; Christa Weigel; Colleen Blomgren; Hannah Munson; Jessa Bidwell; Vamshi Rao et al.