Minnesota Alcohol and Pain Lab (MAPL)

Mission Statement

The mission of the Minnesota Alcohol and Pain Lab (MAPL), directed by Dr. Jeff Boissoneault, is to advance understanding of the association between pain and the use of alcohol and other substances. We aim to generate new insights and treatments that will improve quality of life for people with pain and those at risk for alcohol-related harms. Our research also addresses non-pharmacologic treatments for chronic pain, placebo mechanisms, pain- and substance-related clinical decision making, and development of novel technologies for the assessment of alcohol use. 

We are strongly committed to scientific rigor and integrity, as well as making every effort to reduce stigma and promote science-based clinical practice regarding pain management and alcohol treatment. Finally, we place a high priority on developing and maintaining MAPL as an inclusive, diverse, and supportive environment in which to work and train.

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The Symposium on Pain & Alcohol (SPA) 2024

Bridging Preclinical and Clinical/Translational Research on Alcohol and Pain


June 22, 2024 I 10 AM - 4:15 PM

Hyatt Regency I 1300 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, MN

The goal of SPA is to provide a meeting place for the growing alcohol and pain research community and to increase opportunities for new collaborations. Alcohol researchers and students who are interested in learning more about how pain may intersect with their specific areas of study are welcome to attend. 

Registration is FREE!

Confirm your attendance HERE!

The image is a maroon and gold flyer advertising the schedule of the 2024 Symposium on Pain and Alcohol (SPA) Meeting, which is a satellite meeting under the Research Society on Alcohol’s 2024 conference. On the page is also the logo of the SPA meeting (an illustration of a mouse and human hand holding hands) symbolizing the theme of the meeting. The theme of the conference is “Bridging preclinical and clinical/translational research on alcohol and pain,” and the meeting is happening on June 22nd at the Hyatt Regency Hotel between the hours of 10 AM and 4:15 PM. The schedule is as follows: 10 - 10:15 AM: Symposium on Pain and Alcohol (SPA) Kickoff by Dr. Jeff Boissoneault, PhD, SPA Co-Organizer and Associate Professor at the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota. 10:15 - 11 AM: Keynote presentation about preclinical research on pain/alcohol interactions by Dr. Scott Edwards, PhD and Associate Professor at the Departments of Physiology and Neurosciences at the Louisiana State University’s School of Medicine. 11 - 11:45 AM: Keynote presentation about clinical/translational research on pain/alcohol interactions by Dr. Emily Zale, PhD and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at Binghampton University. 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM: Presentation on funding opportunities related to pain and alcohol by Dr. Mark Egli, PhD, NIAAA HEAL Coordinator and Deputy Director of the Division of Neuroscience and Behavior at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). 12:15 - 1:30 PM: Lunch Break 1:30 - 2:30 PM: Coffee/tea service and networking event 2:30 - 4 PM: Research Symposium with current research on alcohol/pain interactions including presentations by Nicholas Bush (MS, University of Minnesota), Nicholas Gilpin (PhD, Louisiana State University’s School of Medicine), Jose Moron-Concepcion (PhD, Washington University in St. Louis) and Dezarie Moskal (PhD, VA Western NY Healthcare System). 4 - 4:15 PM: SPA Wrap Up by Ryan Carpenter, PhD, SPA Co-Organizer and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. SPA is brought to you by the Minnesota Alcohol and Pain Lab (MAPL), the Department of Anesthesiology and the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction at the University of Minnesota.