An inside look at how researchers are studying, measuring, and treating chronic pain
Tuesday, June 23 | 12:00 – 1:00pm, PST
Virtual | Free and open to the public, but registration is required
Chronic pain affects millions of people and remains one of the most complex challenges in modern healthcare. Join us for a one-hour, accessible conversation with researchers at the Helfgott Research Institute who are working to better understand, measure, and treat pain using integrative and evidence-based approaches.
This installment of the Meet the Scientists of Helfgott series highlights three investigators whose work spans clinical trials, patient-centered outcomes, and innovative approaches to pain management.
Featured Scientists:
Ryan S. WExler, ND, MSCR
Dr. Wexler is a clinical researcher focused on chronic pain management. His work focuses on the development and evaluation of multicomponent mind-body interventions for chronic pain patients, including a clinical trial investigating a mindfulness and qigong program for patients with lumbosacral radicular pain.
Christine McClure, ND, MSCR
Christine McClure, ND, MSCR, is a clinical investigator and naturopathic physician specializing in women’s health and chronic pain. Her research focuses on the development of novel, non-addictive therapeutics derived from natural products, with a particular emphasis on endometriosis-related pain. In parallel, she conducts translational research at Oregon Health & Science University, where she studies the relationship between chronic pain, autonomic physiology, dementia, and caregivers of people living with dementia using in-home digital health technologies. In clinical practice, Dr. McClure focuses on women’s health and chronic pain, integrating evidence-based, patient-centered approaches to support her patients. She is committed to advancing integrative, evidence-based care that meaningfully improves patient outcomes and quality of life.
Dana Dharmakaya Colgan, PhD
Dr. Colgan is a clinical researcher at Helfgott whose work contributes to practice-based and patient-centered research in integrative medicine. Her interests include real-world clinical outcomes and the application of whole-person care models to chronic pain conditions.
What to Expect
Brief, engaging presentations from each scientist (no prior scientific background required)
Insights into how pain is studied—and why it is so difficult to measure and treat
Discussion of emerging integrative and evidence-based approaches
Live Q&A with the researchers
Who Should Attend
This event is designed for:
Patients and community members interested in pain and health
Students and trainees
Clinicians and health professionals
Anyone curious about how research translates into real-world care
Why Attend
Understanding pain requires more than a single perspective. This session offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from researchers working at the intersection of clinical care, patient experience, and scientific evidence—without jargon or barriers.