UNC Anesthesiology is thrilled to announce Vice Chair of Research and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology Matthew Mauck, MD, PhD, has been awarded a highly competitive, nearly 8 million dollar grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This award, provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), will fund Dr. Mauck’s groundbreaking research titled: “Neural Mechanisms of Colored Light-Driven Analgesia.” 
Dr. Mauck’s research explores the potential of non-pharmacological therapies, specifically the use of colored light, to modulate pain pathways in the brain. His work represents an innovative approach to managing pain without the use of opioids, contributing to a vital area of research aimed at addressing the ongoing opioid crisis. The project is set to span five years, and will involve a multidisciplinary team of investigators including Jay Neitz, PhD (vision neuroscientist), James Kuchenbecker, PhD (optoelectric engineer, and vision scientist) from the University of Washington and Norman Taylor, MD, PhD (translational pain researcher, anesthesiologist-scientist). This grant, a part of the NIH HEAL Initiative, will support a collaborative approach to generate new mechanistic knowledge that will improve pain management.
Mauck said, “This collaborative grant is an opportunity to combine expertise from different areas of science to solve an important biological mystery of how light presented to the visual system produces analgesia.”
In describing the team Dr. Mauck noted, “One of the biggest thrills of team science is working with members across disciplines to solve important problems. We have put together an amazing team of scientists with different yet complementary expertise.”
The entire department congratulates Dr. Mauck on this remarkable achievement. His work exemplifies our commitment to advancing pain management through cutting-edge research and improving patients’ lives.
Visit Mauck Lab for more updates on Dr. Mauck’s research progress and its potential impact on the future of pain management!