PARC's mission is to accelerate the translation of research into improved patient care in pain and addiction. PARC accomplishes this mission by developing and testing new approaches for treating pain and addiction, decreasing the negative consequences of opioids, and developing effective ways to mitigate the impact of drugs of addiction.
Below are selected highlights from PARC since its launch in spring 2020 to spring 2022.
Building university-wide collaborations in translational pain and addiction research and care
- PARC has created an environment that connects our inter-professional community by convening seminars, research retreats, and facilitated working groups across Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Pharmacy, the Graduate School, and the Physical Therapy Division.
- More than 100 faculty and learners have become members of PARC; more than 1200 have joined our email list.
- PARC has partnered with stakeholders across UCSF in pain and addiction, including the Drug Use Research Group (DURG), UCSF Health Committees for Pain, Substance Use, and Health Education, to consider and develop multi-PI projects that cross traditional topical barriers.
- PARC’s largest research working group is studying the role of Buprenorphine in pain and addiction care.
Supporting UCSF PARC members research by Increasing philanthropy & grant revenue
- Philanthropic donations through PARC of over $300,000 have been utilized both to fund research fellowships and to provide educational offerings for UCSF clinicians.
- After a competitive selection process in early 2022, three research projects were funded that align with PARC’s mission.
- PARC publicized foundation grant announcements, as well as offered introduction and mentorship to PARC faculty, one of whom later won an award of $1.3 million for ZSFGH’s Team Lily.
Providing education and support to the next generation of scientists and clinicians
- A collaboration between PARC, the UCSF Health Pain Committee and 62 faculty and staff resulted in the development of a website pain.ucsf.edu to aid in improving all clinicians’ understanding and treatment of pain.
- By collaborating with UCSF Health to assess and respond to clinician needs, PARC continues to translate basic and translational research to provide value to the hospitals, clinics and community at large.
The value of PARC to Members
"The connections with other researchers within and outside of UCSF has been helpful for my research. The opportunities to present and be exposed to research has been helpful as well."
"A better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of opioids and most importantly the mechanisms through which they act in these different areas, as well as learning about very different methods to study their action, has been particularly useful."
"I have cited the work presented by Yasmin Hurd and appreciate hearing from clinical service providers."
"I enjoy the seminars and retreat videos that are available for viewing."
Ways to get involved with PARC
Join a proposal working group, start a working group, or listen in on a seminar. Or contact us at [email protected] to find out how you might get involved. In AY23, PARC will be including more clinical research offerings and patient perspectives as part of our educational events for the UCSF community.