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Translational Research in Pain

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Explore the sections below to learn about our noteworthy news in The TRiP Lab!

Celebrating Amber Hall!

After two incredible years with the TRiP Lab, we’re celebrating undergraduate researcher Amber Hall as she begins her next chapter in veterinary medicine! During her time with the lab, Amber contributed to numerous research studies, developed valuable clinical and research skills, presented her work, and contributed to scientific manuscripts. Beyond her accomplishments, Amber has been a valued member of our team, and we are grateful for the curiosity, dedication, and enthusiasm she brought to the lab. Amber will be joining the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2030, where she plans to continue exploring her interests in mixed animal medicine, clinical research, and academia. We are incredibly proud of all she has accomplished and wish her the very best in this exciting next chapter!

Photo of Amber Hall

Latest From TRiP

Photo of Dr. Kristine McMahon

Introducing Dr. Kristine McMahon!

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Kristine (“Kris”) McMahon to the TRiP Research Lab as our newest postdoctoral intern. Kris joins us after working as an emergency veterinarian in Washington state and completing a surgical internship. We are excited to have her on the team and look forward to the expertise and perspective she’ll bring to our research!

“…I am thrilled to join the TRiP Research Lab. It’s such a great opportunity to learn from and work alongside the leading experts in the field of translational pain research, and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing how novel pain management strategies can improve the daily lives of our four-legged family members. Grateful to be a new member of the Wolfpack!”

Ricky Bobby, Rudy, and Jack for their Derby Day photoshoot

Thank You for Supporting Our Important Work!

We are incredibly grateful to the many pet owners and canine participants — past, present, and future — who make our research possible. Your support, trust, and dedication help advance our understanding of chronic pain, emotion, cognition, and overall well-being in companion animals. Every wag, visit, and contribution plays a meaningful role in improving the lives of pets everywhere. A special shout-out to Ricky Bobby, Rudy, and Jack, who are featured alongside this blurb from our recent Derby Day photoshoot — thank you for bringing so much personality and joy to our research community!

Nathan Hall and his award!

Congratulations to Nathan Hall!

Nathan Hall, a member of the TRiP Lab, was recently recognized on May 5th at the University Honors Program Senior Recognition Ceremony, where he received his completion certificate and medal. In addition, Nathan earned an Honorable Mention for the Blanton and Miller Outstanding Research Award—an impressive distinction among more than 250 UHP graduates, with only a small number of students selected for this recognition. Nathan’s achievement reflects his dedication to research and his contributions to the TRiP Lab. We’re proud of his accomplishments and excited to see his continued work with the lab in the coming year!

Dr. Lascelles receiving AAVMC Award

AAVMC Catalyze 2026 Recap!

April 16-18, Dr. Lascelles attended the AAVMC Catalyze Annual Conference in Washington, DC! Where global leaders in academic veterinary medicine connect, share insights and best practices, explore issues and opportunities, and shape the future of the profession! At this conference, Dr. Lascelles was presented with his award, the AAVMC Excellence in Research Award! We are so proud of this big accomplishment! Check out the link below to watch his tribute video!

Check out the video!
Photo of Dr. Lascelles and students at Open House

Pack Achievements

This past Saturday, the TRiP Lab and Thinking Pets Program had the pleasure of participating in the annual Open House at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. We enjoyed connecting with so many students, families, and aspiring veterinarians, sharing insights into our research and the work we do to better understand animal health, pain, and behavior. It was especially rewarding to see such curiosity and enthusiasm from the next generation of scientists and veterinary professionals. Thank you to everyone who took the time to visit our table and engage with our team, we’re grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an inspiring day. We look forward to seeing many of these bright minds again in the future!

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Photo of Cat

Researchers Identify Potential Disease Marker, Therapeutic Target for Cats with Osteoarthritis

“With relatively limited options for managing chronic pain in cats, if we can understand more about how the sensation of pain is being generated in cats themselves, then we will be a step closer to developing therapies that are effective in cats,” adds Duncan Lascelles, professor of translational pain research at NC State. Lascelles is a co-corresponding author of the study.’

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VetPac Interns visiting the TRiP lab

VetPAC Interns Visit the TRiP Lab!

We had the pleasure of welcoming the VetPAC interns to the TRiP Lab at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. During their visit, students learned about our translational pain research through demonstrations of our behavioral and cognitive assessment tasks, as well as short presentations from lab members highlighting their individual research projects. We shared how our work aims to better understand and treat pain in animals in ways that can also inform and improve human pain care. It was a wonderful opportunity to engage with future leaders in veterinary medicine and research and to showcase the impact of collaborative, translational science.

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Register for the Upcoming NC Veterinary Pain Short Course!

“NC State College of Veterinary Medicine is proud to host the sixth international Veterinary Pain Short Course on pain, pain mechanisms and novel therapies in veterinary medicine,  June 4 – 6, 2026 NC State College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh NC.  This meeting is unique in veterinary medicine for its emphasis upon fundamental (basic) principles and mechanisms of pain as they pertain to the veterinary patient.”

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Congratulations to Our Rising Wolves!

Congratulations to Javian McMillan and Amber Hall who received notification of acceptance into the Class of 2030 at NC State College of Veterinary Medicine! We are so proud of you! Javian McMillan has been working in the Thinking Pets Program helping our collaborative work looking at the interplay between persistent pain, cognition and affect in pet dogs. Amber Hall has been working on a collaborative project with the UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine, helping us understand the role of gut health in osteoarthritis.

NC State Behavioral Specialist Leads $5.5 Million NIH Grant for Research Contributing to Opioid Fight

In a strong collaboration, Drs. Gruen and Lascelles, together with Co-PI Brian Hare at Duke, received a $5.5M NIH grant to study the relationship between emotion, cognition, and persistent pain. More about the research linked below!

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A Dog’s Breed Can Affect Pain Sensitivity, But Not Necessarily The Way Your Vet May Think

“Dog breeds differ in pain sensitivity, but these differences don’t always match up with the beliefs people – including veterinarians – hold about breed-specific pain sensitivity. “

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TRiP and CPREC Successfully Host the First Veterinary Technician ‘Teach the Teacher’ Program

“Portuguese veterinary nurse Sandra Félix, who works in referral practice in Germany, received the first Scholarship for a veterinary nurse/technician to study under former GPC Chair Dr Duncan Lascelles. From September-November 2022, she spent time with him at North Carolina State University, Comparative Pain Research and Education Centre, and Integrated Pain Management Service (TRiP), USA.”

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Canine OA Injectable Gets Green
Light

“As our understanding of canine pain expands, Librela provides a unique monthly treatment to control OA pain in dogs by targeting NGF, helping to improve their comfort, mobility, and overall well-being,” Dr. Lascelles says.”

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Graduate Student Ankita Gupta Wins the ‘3 Minute Thesis’ Competition

“On Oct. 25, three Ph.D. students representing three different NC State University colleges were chosen as winners in the Graduate School’s 2022 Three Minute Thesis. The competition challenges graduate students to present their research in just three minutes. The finalists were chosen from a field of 40 students who submitted their videos in the preliminary rounds.”

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Lascelles Named DuBose Distinguished Professor

“Duncan Lascelles, professor of translational pain research and management, has been named to the Dr. J. McNeely and Lynne K. DuBose Distinguished Professorship in Musculoskeletal Health. The formal recognition took place this month at an event on the College of Veterinary Medicine campus.”

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AAHA’s Updated Pain Management Guidelines: A Paradigm Shift in Managing Pain

“This marks the first update of the guidelines since 2015, and there have been some big changes.”

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NC State Plays Pivotal Role in Revolutionary Feline Osteoarthritis Treatment

“NC State College of Veterinary Medicine researchers Margaret Gruen and Duncan Lascelles played a key role in the first treatment for osteoarthritis pain in cats approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.”

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Study Sets Baseline for Sleep Patterns in Healthy Adult Dogs

“The study was necessary because research on dogs and sleep has outpaced our basic knowledge about what a ‘normal’ sleep/wake cycle looks like,” says Dr. Margaret Gruen.

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