Researchers Pablo Brumovsky, Florencia Coronel and Marcelo Villar received the “2024 Award for Excellence in Pain Research and Treatment in Developing Countries ”, which has been awarded by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) since 2005.

“The dedication and contributions to the advancement of pain-related programs in Argentina have been recognized as exemplary by the IASP,” the organization highlights in its official statement.

The work of the researchers who work at the Institute of Translational Medicine Research (IIMT), which depends on the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of the Universidad Austral and Conicet, was selected from a large number of candidates internationally.

El The jury valued the researchers' scientific contributions over almost three decades of uninterrupted work.Dr. Villar was the driving force behind this line of research in the Universidad Austral, emerging under his leadership the Pain Program focused on detecting the mechanisms underlying acute and chronic pain, as well as identifying therapeutic targets to develop new therapies and drugs. Later, the  Cancer Pain Laboratory, led by Dr. Coronel and the Laboratory of Mechanisms and Therapeutic Innovation in Pain, headed by Dr. Brumovsky.

Translational Research

“ Argentina has made great strides in this area since the 1990s , when there wasn't a single research laboratory in the country addressing the problem of pain. At the University, we have established an active translational research program with which we aspire to provide tangible solutions to patients suffering from pain in the near future,” added Dr. Villar.

“Our focus is on improving the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to pathological pain, with the aim of identifying promising targets for its therapeutic control . In recent years, in particular, we have dedicated ourselves to understanding the role of non-neuronal cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells, immune system cells, and glial cells, and the influence they exert on the activity of neurons specialized in pain transmission at the peripheral and spinal cord levels,” Brumovsky emphasized.

Recently, researchers—along with a team of biochemists, physicians, and biologists—have been focused on developing a new drug to treat chronic neuropathic and inflammatory pain . The solution is currently in clinical trials with healthy volunteers to test its pharmacokinetics and safety.

International award.

When asked about the significance of the award, Dr. Villar stated that it is " recognition of a long career dedicated to the study of pain in the laboratory" and that " it comes at a time when we are bringing our observations and achievements to humans with effective clinical experiments and the possibility of developing a specific pharmaceutical product that serves a sector of society that suffers from chronic pain and for which there are no effective treatments."

For Dr. Brumovsky, the award symbolizes “ prestigious recognition of the enormous sacrifice that individuals and institutions make every day to contribute to knowledge about a topic that affects the entire world population, such as pain. Furthermore, it motivates me to strive for more and to show younger generations a path that does not disappoint if it begins with vocation, dedication, and unwavering faith in the great good one can do for those who suffer .”

“This recognition motivates us to continue exploring new horizons and to keep working with enthusiasm and determination in the search for solutions to the scientific and social challenges we face , particularly in the field of chronic pain. We hope that our work will continue to be a source of inspiration and motivation, especially for new generations of scientists working in the field of pain and beyond,” concluded Dr. Coronel.