Working across disciplines to minimize pain and reduce the impact of addictive opioid drugs
![gettyimages-1322490166](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/jumbo_16_9/public/2023-09/gettyimages-1322490166_0.jpg?h=2d867287&itok=GdA6fPuf)
One of the basic tenets of medicine is the lessening of pain, and unfortunately for many, has led to an epidemic in the use of powerful and addicting analgesics known as opioids.
Michigan Medicine researchers are leading the field in researching evidence-based ways to more responsibly prescribe these drugs and to help patients living with opioid use disorders. Our scientists are also actively exploring effective alternative pain relievers that can help people live lives with less suffering.
Michigan Medicine is home to several initiatives dedicated to researching opioids and pain:
![Vinay Aakalu, MD, MPH](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2024-01/ophthy-faculty-aakalu-vinay_1.jpg?itok=01Jz8c3q)
Professor of Visual Sciences
![ahmed-abdel-latif](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2024-02/ahmed-abdel-latif-4.png?itok=2rPSKcOq)
Program Director, Internal Medicine
![labcoat](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/modules/custom/outline_design_system/assets/images/labcoat_default.jpg)
Academic Director Ambulatory Psychiatry
Psychiatry
![Lindsay Admon headshot](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2024-02/Admon-Lindsay.jpeg?itok=XHCyRuMi)
![labcoat](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/modules/custom/outline_design_system/assets/images/labcoat_default.jpg)
Section Head, Cardiothoracic Radiology
![Jaimo Ahn](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2023-12/Jaimo-Ahn-2023.jpg?itok=3ofJLq7s)
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Associate Chair, Orthopaedic Surbery
Section Head and Service Chief
Faculty Affairs
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery
![William R. Aibinder](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2023-10/aibinder_william_1.jpg?itok=LUhA01gT)
Medical Student Clerkship Director
Orthopaedic Surgery
![ailawadi-gorav.jpg](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2024-03/ailawadi_gorav_4x5_1.jpg?itok=1KZvQzJc)
Chair, Department of Cardiac Surgery
Professor of Cardiac Surgery
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
![labcoat](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/modules/custom/outline_design_system/assets/images/labcoat_default.jpg)
Gardner C Quarton Collegiate Professor of Neurosciences in the Michigan Neuroscience Institute
Professor of Psychiatry and Research Professor
Michigan Neuroscience Institute
![Ilyas S. Aleem MD](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2023-09/ilyas_syed_aleem_md.jpg?itok=pa5ynKUp)
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
Medical Director, MPLAN
Medical Director, UMMG
Program Assistant, Resident Research, Orthopaedic Surgery
![neil alexander](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/wide/public/2024-03/NEIL_B._ALEXANDER.jpg?itok=XkOFGCOj)
Collegiate Professor of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine
Professor of Internal Medicine
Research Professor
Institute of Gerontology
![labcoat](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/modules/custom/outline_design_system/assets/images/labcoat_default.jpg)
Neurology
Department of Biological Chemistry
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
Department of Learning Health Sciences
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Department of Emergency Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
![stethoscope](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-08/stethoscope.jpg?h=ae21e8e5&itok=Dw_9oHVa)
![doctor talking and parent standing by child in hospital bed](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-02/doctor-green-cast-child-parent.jpg?h=6de5717d&itok=JkQhJyqT)
![pills doctor prescription patient](https://research-dev.uofmhealth.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/2023-03/opiod-pills-doctor-hands-hospital.jpg?h=f0fb51a5&itok=gfB8c6SL)