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Ben Alter

@benalter.bsky.social
271 followers 243 following 10 posts

Pain Medicine physician-scientist at University of Pittsburgh; translational neuroscience of acute and chronic pain

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Reposted by Ben Alter
The Journal of Pain @thejournalofpain.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Original: Drs. Strigo, Simmons, @storrisi.bsky.social, @benalter.bsky.social, et al. identified distinct neural phenotypes of pain anticipation in chronic low back pain (cLBP) and examined their clinical and physiological correlates in 43 cLBP patients. FULL:
jpain.org
Brain mechanisms of pain anticipation in chronic low back pain: Insights into phenotypical responses to mind-body therapy
Pain perception and emotional processing share common predictive mechanisms influenced by anticipation, expectation, and uncertainty. This study identifies distinct neural phenotypes of pain…
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Ben Alter @benalter.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
Nice viewpoint. Certainly relevant in pain research www.thetransmitter.org/animal-model...
thetransmitter.org
Neuroscience has a species problem
If neuroscience is serious about building general principles of brain function, cross-species dialogue must become a core organizing principle.
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Reposted by Ben Alter
StanfordPain @stanfordpain.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Gabapentin has been an effective medication for many people living with pain. It is particularly helpful for neuropathic pain when used thoughtfully.
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Ewan St. John Smith @psalmotoxin.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
Calling all osteoarthritis pain researchers - still a few months until the deadline for our @oacjournal.bsky.social special issue on Pain Mechanisms in Osteoarthritis 👇 #PainResearch #Neuroskyence 🧠 🧪
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Pain Research Forum @painresforum.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Join @iasp.bsky.social’s #NeuPSIG and Courtney Bannerman on 18 Feb to discuss Xu et al’s results in @nature.com that mitochondrial transfer from glia to neurons protects against peripheral neuropathy bit.ly/46hu5D2 Register here bit.ly/4tiPRQM #journalclub #PRF
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Ben Alter @benalter.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Big news from the lab! 🧠🦵 Honored to receive an NIH HEAL Initiative R01 to investigate whole-person mechanisms in knee osteoarthritis. This work aims to bridge pain science, aging, and systems biology to improve outcomes for millions.
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Pitt Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine @pittanesthesiology.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
🔬💡 Over 200 researchers came together for the inaugural Pain Day at the University of Pittsburgh - a celebration of cutting-edge research, innovation, and collaboration across Pittsburgh: www.anesthesiology.pitt.edu/news/inaugur...
Ben Alter, Rebecca Seal, and Sylvia Lin interacting during Pain Day 2025.Poster presentations in the Connolly Ballroom at Alumni Hall during Pain Day 2025.Audience members at Pain Day 2025 during the Q&A session.Dr. David Julius delivering the Keynote Lecture at Pain Day 2025.
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Pitt Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine @pittanesthesiology.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Exciting news! 🎉 Our department has received a grant from NCCIH to study how auriculotherapy can relieve chronic low back pain. Led by Dr. Keith Vogt, this cutting-edge research could pave the way for safer, non-opioid pain treatments for pain patients: www.anesthesiology.pitt.edu/news/departm...
Graphic featuring a photo of Dr. Keith Vogt and the logos of the University of Pittsburgh Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and the NCCIH.
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Ben Alter @benalter.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Thanks @hstratton.bsky.social for posting about it and being a part of our amazing group of researchers at Pitt tackling the problem of pain.
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Ben Alter @benalter.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
I was excited to hear about a new behavioral treatment for chronic pain developed by researchers in Australia -- dialectical behavior therapy adapted to chronic pain. Thanks to @sutherlandphd.bsky.social for covering this development.
jamanetwork.com
Online Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for Emotion Dysregulation in Chronic Pain
This randomized clinical trial evaluates the efficacy of a hybrid self-directed and therapist-guided therapy for emotional dysregulation in adults with chronic pain.
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Ted Price @tedpricethepainguy.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
It is accomplished www.cnn.com/2025/01/30/h...
cnn.com
FDA approves first new type of pain medication in 25 years | CNN
A new pain relief drug, suzetrigine, is a prescription pill that’s taken every 12 hours after a larger starter dose. It will be sold under the brand name Journavx.
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Ben Alter @benalter.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
FDA approves new non-opioid pain drug
Discover the world’s best science and medicine | Nature.com
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Reposted by Ben Alter
turrigiano.bsky.social @turrigiano.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
The Society for Neuroscience calls for lifting the freeze on federal grants www.sfn.org/publications...
sfn.org
Call to End Freeze on Federal Grants
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Ardem Patapoutian @ardemp.bskyverified.social · 28/01/2025
All Democrats in Congress and the Senate will fight this—it’s illegal. But Republican lawmakers NEED to hear from their constituents! Priority order: call, then email. Be clear about how this will hurt education, the economy, and health! 🧪 www.nytimes.com/live/2025/01...
nytimes.com
White House Orders Pause in All Federal Grants and Loans
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Vivianne Tawfik, MD, PhD @vivtawfik-mdphd.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Just finished my weekly Monday clinic and I want everyone to know that I literally have the nicest patients ever. Pain Medicine is an underrated specialty- highly recommend 😊
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Ben Alter @benalter.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring
Researchers facing “a lot of uncertainty, fear, and panic”
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Jane Liebschutz, MD MPH (she/her) @liebschutz.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
All NIH study sections canceled indefinitely. This will halt science and devastate research budgets in universities.
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Hank Green @hankgreen.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
It’s interesting that the emojis show the earth from three angles 🌎 🌍 🌏 but not the fourth. Though 🔵 is a fair approximation of what it would look like. People underestimate the Pacific.
A picture of the earth showing the pacific ocean. You can see hawaii and New Zealand. Also the edge of antarctica, australia, and north and south america...but barely.
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Reposted by Ben Alter
Fadel Zeidan @fadelzeidan.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
We are hiring ! We are recruiting a scientist that is interested in studying the brain mechanisms supporting cannabis-based analgesia. Reach out for more details and please share
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Reposted by Ben Alter
HHMI @hhmi-science.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Talk about living your #science! When devotion to #research leaves a permanent mark—definitely filing this under: ‘Do what you love, love what you do!' 💪💚
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