Edward Bilsky presents at the AOA Public Health Seminar

Associate Provost for Research and Scholarship Edward Bilsky, PhD. presented at the American Osteopathic Association's Annual Meeting in part of a larger Seminar on Public Health. 

The title of the entire seminar was “Multi-Dimensional Aspects of Pain,” and Dr. Bilsky’s talk was entitled “Tangled up in the blue: How neuroscience research is providing new insights into the treatment of pain, addiction and their comorbidities.” Dr. Bilsky, who is also professor of biomedical sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, and director of the Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, focused his talk on the transition from acute pain to chronic pain in patients. Utilizing an anecdote about an ankle sprain, he discussed the interest in figuring out the bridge between acute and chronic pain, keeping in mind that when chronic pain patients are enabled, they can become very powerful.

Dr. Bilsky’s presentation also focused on up and coming research on chronic pain that looked at brain images of fibromyalgia patients which has shown linkage between glutamate and the neurobiology of pain. There has also been a focus on the association between pain and inflammation via examination of the rate-limiting enzyme in tryptophan metabolism known as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. More research is being performed to determine if this would be a viable enzyme to inhibit in pain management. 

Dr. Bilsky's presentation was highlighted in the OMED Daily News. .

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