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Founders Week 2024: Researcher of the Year Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS
October 9, 2024
Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, first became fascinated with the placebo effect and pain management when she was in medical school.
“I was captivated by the brain’s functions, especially how little we know about its role in healing and how it influences the perception of pain-related symptoms,” said Colloca, professor, Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), and University of Maryland MPower professor.
At the same time, she was becoming concerned about the opioid epidemic and wondered if there was a way to reduce the overuse and misuse of opioids in pain treatment by identifying patients who need the treatments and others who may not.
“Some patients experience meaningful pain relief simply by expecting to be treated,” she said. “Placebo research has become a valuable tool for understanding brain functions. It is also highly relevant for the development of new treatments because the identification of the appropriate control condition is so critical.”
This became the basis for Colloca’s work as she has conducted groundbreaking studies on the placebo phenomenon that have advanced scientific understanding of the brain’s ability to regulate the pain experience and led to the development of novel strategies to optimize therapeutic outcomes in clinical practice.
Colloca is an international expert in the fields of placebo effect and nocebo effect — the opposite of the placebo effect in which instead of having a positive response, patients have negative outcomes to treatments that cannot be explained by the treatments’ pharmacologic effects — and mechanisms of pain modulation. She has secured multiple National Institutes of Health awards, including several R01 grants and an R21 grant. For her pioneering work, Colloca has been named the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) 2024 Founders Week Researcher of the Year.
Colloca’s body of research, published in more than 200 papers in high-impact medical journals and cited more than 19,000 times, is closely aligned with the strategic research priorities of UMSON and the broader mission of UMB, says Barbara Resnick, PhD '96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, and associate dean for research, UMSON, and Distinguished University Professor, UMB.
“Dr. Colloca’s research over the past 10 years at UMSON has significantly advanced the field of pain and translational symptom science,” Resnick said in nominating Colloca for the honor. “Her innovative studies on placebo effects, immersive virtual reality, and pain modulation have influenced clinical practice and public policy, providing new approaches to pain management that reduce reliance on opioid medications.”
Colloca’s work focuses on endogenous pain modulation mechanisms, patient expectations, and the learning processes that affect responses to treatments and overall health outcomes.
“When someone expects to receive a pain-relieving treatment, their brain may release substances like endorphins, which can actually reduce or even eliminate pain. These responses are rooted in specific neural and other biological mechanisms,” Colloca said.
Colloca’s key discoveries have included challenging the traditional framework of expectations versus conditioning as the primary explanation for the psychobiological mechanisms of the placebo effect, introducing observational, or social, learning as a trigger mechanism. Her work has also led to discovering that a neuropeptide — arginine vasopressin — is involved in pain modulation; understanding how dose-extending placebos can be harnessed to taper medications via pharmacological conditioning; and adding new genetic mechanisms as predictors of placebo effects.
Working in Baltimore has allowed Colloca to explore the interplay between disparities and placebo effects, researching why some people respond to placebo treatments while others do not.
“We’ve found that a combination of factors, including social disparities such as living in socioeconomically distressed neighborhoods and biological characteristics such as genetic influences play a role in these differing responses,” she said.
She also has translated some of the mechanisms of endogenous pain modulation into clinical applications that can be used for relieving pain-related outcomes.
“We demonstrated that the underlying mechanisms involved in virtual reality [VR]-induced pain reduction is due to a modulation of autonomic responses and mood regulation, which play a crucial role in VR’s action of increasing pain tolerance. We translated this knowledge into clinical applications,” she said. “For example, we have been providing VR headsets to patients with chronic pain at home, demonstrating that VR can improve clinical pain-related outcomes.”
Her lab is currently conducting projects, supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, to uncover the neural mechanisms behind observation and socially induced analgesia.
“We are focusing on social learning, a field where observing benefits in others can shape outcomes in the observers,” she said.
Her lab also is researching predictors of placebo effects spanning gene expression in patients suffering from orofacial pain, supported by the National Dental Craniofacial Research, advancing the knowledge of this pain disorder and its management.
Placebo Beyond Opinions Center
Colloca serves as director of UMSON’s Placebo Beyond Opinions Center, which is committed to advancing interdisciplinary research and education on placebo, nocebo, and expectation effects, with a focus on addressing disparities, improving design of clinical trials, educating future clinicians, and incorporating placebo knowledge into medicine.
Resnick said the center “has furthered interdisciplinary investigations into placebo phenomena locally and internationally and enhanced the educational landscape for future clinicians and researchers.”
Resnick also praised Colloca, who holds secondary appointments as professor in the Departments of Anesthesiology and Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, for remaining dedicated to mentoring and teaching. Colloca serves as the T32 pre- and postdoctoral training program director of the UMB Institute for Clinical and Translational Research’s Clinical and Translational Science Award and mentors MPower scholars.
“Dr. Colloca has mentored numerous PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff scientists, many of whom have gone on to achieve significant academic and professional success,” Resnick said.
Colloca said mentorship is an opportunity to shape the next generation of researchers and clinicians.
“When I mentor, I don’t just pass on knowledge — I help to promote curiosity, critical thinking, and a sense of purpose,” she said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to watch students grow and develop their own ideas and career paths. Our role as mentors is to help them gain the confidence to pursue their own research paths.”
She added that mentoring helps build a supportive community.
“It’s important to show students that research is collaborative and their contributions are valued,” she said. “I hope to inspire students to approach their work with passion and perseverance, and to make meaningful contributions to their fields and contribute throughout education to a better society.”
A Love of Learning
Colloca said one of the reasons she enjoys research is because she loves to learn.
“I love thinking, searching, and discovering. In many ways, I find rest through my work,” she said. “Today, being a researcher goes beyond studying — it’s about making a difference in how we think about pain management. It’s also about inspiring others to get excited about research. I’m constantly amazed by the power of collaborative minds witnessing our collective creativity in action.”
She said she felt “a deep sense of joy and profound gratitude” when she learned she was named UMB Researcher of the Year, adding that she shares the achievement with those who have supported her: the School of Nursing, her team, and the UMB community.
“I feel humbled, grateful, and honored,” Colloca said. “I think of the colleagues who have contributed in various ways and the students who may now look to me and the other recipients as sources of inspiration for their own careers.”
UMSON Receives Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for Seventh Consecutive Year
October 3, 2024
Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has once again been recognized for its outstanding commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, earning the Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for the seventh consecutive year. This prestigious award is the only national honor recognizing health schools and centers that excel in promoting diversity and inclusion on their campuses.
UMSON will be featured, along with 70 other higher education institutions, in the November/December 2024 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
“This year marks the seventh year of receiving the Health Professions HEED award. This year is special, as the recognition is a result of the collaborative efforts of the new staff in UMSON’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and of everyone’s hard work in creating an inclusive learning environment at the University of Maryland School of Nursing,” said Yvette Conyers, DNP, MS, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CFCS, CNE, FADLN, CWNC-AP, assistant professor and associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). “In light of the political challenges related to EDI, we as a University and School stand committed to equity, and this award highlights its importance.”
The award recognizes U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The application is open to all accredited U.S. and Canadian health profession schools, including medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary, and osteopathic medical schools. The HEED Award’s rigorous application process acknowledges an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment regarding broadening EDI on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.
UMSON’s initiatives, guided by its In UniSON anti-oppression position statement, focus on broadening EDI through programs, outreach, and recruitment of a diverse student body. More than 60% of UMSON students identify as racially and ethnically diverse, and 13% are male — both figures above the national average for nursing schools.
Equity and justice are one set of core values at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and UMSON works to integrate these values fully and authentically into all aspects of its work and community. UMSON’s Office of EDI offers individual and departmental support with a focus on relationship and community building and advocacy, efforts aimed at ensuring equity in policies and practices at all levels. It has developed activities, events, and affinity groups to engage faculty, staff, and students in thinking more broadly about diversity and in working toward a more inclusive community.
Highlights of UMSON’s ongoing EDI efforts include:
strengthening relationships with student leaders to promote diversity efforts through the EDI Council, an elected body that encourages departments that encourages departments and units across UMSON to foster EDI as guiding principles, and the Restorative Justice program, which places UMSON at the forefront of fostering robust and healthy relationships across its campus and local communities
supporting student-led organizations such as the Latinx Association of Nurses at the University of Maryland and the Black Student Nurses Association
offering workshops focused on LGBTQ+ issues during Pride Month and training faculty and staff on anti-oppression practices
organizing the Pathway to Nursing orientation program, designed to foster inclusivity and belonging among new students
partnering with the Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association for its 2023 Annual Conference, offering application fee waivers, and promoting UMSON programs as well as attending national conferences to recruit diverse students, including those hosted by the National Black Nurses Association and DNPs of Color
hosting two documentary screenings along with panel discussions at each. In May, UMSON teamed up with the nursing schools at Coppin State, Johns Hopkins, and Morgan State universities for a screening of “Squeegee Kids: Understanding the Misunderstood.” In September, the EDI office and Office of Development and Alumni Relations presented a screening of “Everybody’s Work: Healing What Hurts Us.” Both films highlighted the need for inclusion and equity in underserved populations.
hosting a Peace Vigil in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, offering a space for reflection and community supportThis seventh consecutive HEED Award reflects UMSON’s dedication to integrating equity and justice into every aspect of its work, reaffirming its place as a leader in diversity within health professions.
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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.
Two University of Maryland School of Nursing Doctoral Candidates Selected as 2024 - 26 Jonas Scholars
October 1, 2024
Baltimore, Md. – Two University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) doctoral students have been chosen by the Jonas Center for Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) as Jonas Scholars for 2024 - 26. The scholarship program aims to improve health care by expanding the pool of PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-prepared nurses needed to educate the next generation of nurses. UMSON has been awarded a $24,000 grant to support the two scholars.
Through the Jonas Scholars program, UMSON PhD students Anne O. Hagan, MSN ’21, BSN ’19, RN, and Alexandra Mora, MS ’14, RN, will be provided with financial assistance, leadership development, and networking support. They join a group of 61 other doctoral nursing students chosen for their passion for teaching, academic excellence, and research abilities. They will spend two years learning from nationwide nursing experts and developing new skills to transition into a nursing faculty role. Each scholar is paired with a mentor.
The 2024 - 26 cohort of Jonas Scholars consists of doctoral students from 25 states, with 50% representing Black, Latino, and other communities of color, ensuring that these new nurse leaders reflect the patient population of their diverse communities. Together, the scholars are receiving more than $1 million in scholarship funds. Research interests among them include underserved populations in nursing, mental health, and veterans’ health. Hagan’s area of focus is gerontology while Mora’s is underserved populations.
“The Jonas Scholar Award is a prestigious scholarship program that supports future nurse scientists as they journey through their PhD program, and I feel incredibly honored and thrilled to be in the 2024 - 26 cohort,” Hagan said. “I am humbled that the University of Maryland School of Nursing has partnered with Jonas Philanthropies to invest in me as a future nurse scientist.”
"I am deeply honored to have been selected as a Jonas Scholar,” Mora said. “This scholarship is instrumental in helping me achieve my goals of working with underserved communities and to continue teaching the next generation of nurses. With this opportunity, I am committed to making a difference in the field of health care."
The mission of Jonas Nursing is to enhance the nursing profession by developing nurse leaders who will address the nursing shortage by educating the future nursing workforce and by investing in the health and well-being of our most underserved communities.
AACN is the national voice for academic nursing, representing more than 875 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and practice.
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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.
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