Research
Why Research at UTEP?
Unique Population:
- El Paso is one of the largest Hispanic-serving communities in the nation (>80% Hispanic, >90% minorities)
- UTEP enrolls 25,000 students (81% Latinx), many first-generation college students
- Ideal environment for understanding health disparities and diverse pain experiences
Research Excellence:
- R1 designation (top-tier doctoral university with very high research activity)
- $146 million in federal research expenditures (2023)
- State-of-the-art 150,000-square-foot interdisciplinary research building
- Strong track record of NIH, NSF, and DOD funding success
Accessibility: Free parking available. Public transportation accessible. ADA compliant
Current and Past Projects
Institution: University of Texas at El Paso, Pain modulation and Rehabilitation Lab (PMR Lab)
Funding: UTEP Internal Grant ($2,000) + UTEP Startup Funds
Timeline: June 2025 - Present
Description: This study investigates how high-intensity interval training (HIIT) triggers exercise-induced hypoalgesia—the body's natural pain-relieving response to physical activity. Using metabolic monitoring and quantitative sensory testing, we measure changes in pain sensitivity to heat, cold, and pressure before, during, and after HIIT sessions. Our goal is to understand the temporal dynamics of pain modulation and identify optimal exercise protocols for pain relief.
Exploring Pain Modulation Mechanisms: A Study of TMS and Repeated Conditioned Pain Modulation
Institution: University of Texas at El Paso, Pain modulation and Rehabilitation Lab (PMR Lab)
Funding: AOPT New Investigator Grant ($30,000) + UTEP Startup Funds
Timeline: April 2025 - Present
Description: Can the body's natural pain relief system be trained? This study investigates whether repeated conditioned pain modulation (CPM) sessions enhance endogenous pain inhibition. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and quantitative sensory testing, we examine how the central nervous system adapts to systematic CPM training. This research challenges the traditional view of CPM as merely an assessment tool, exploring its potential as a therapeutic intervention that could transform rehabilitation approaches to pain management.
Institution: University of Florida, Center for Pain Rehabilitation Research
Timeline: January 2023 - May 2024
Principal Investigator: Dr. Priyanka Rana
Co-Principal Investigator: Dr. Mark Bishop, PT, PhD, FAPTA
Status: Published in Frontiers in Pain Research (2025)
Description:
This randomized controlled trial was the first to systematically investigate whether the body's endogenous pain modulation system can be trained and enhanced through repeated exposure to CPM protocols. Using a rigorous experimental design, we examined CPM efficiency changes across multiple sessions and assessed corresponding shifts in pain sensitivity measures including heat pain threshold, heat pain tolerance, pressure pain threshold, and temporal summation of pain. Seventy-six healthy adults were randomized to either a CPM training group (receiving repeated CPM exposure over multiple sessions) or a control group. Results demonstrated that repeated CPM exposure led to significant improvements in CPM efficiency and reductions in pain sensitivity, providing the first evidence that endogenous pain modulation can function as a trainable skill rather than a fixed trait.
