The faculty affiliated with the Center for Advanced Pain Therapeutics and Research (CAPToR) represent a diverse and highly accomplished group of scientists and educators spanning multiple disciplines across the University of Florida. With expertise in pharmacology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, veterinary medicine, medicinal chemistry, and computational biology, CAPToR faculty are uniquely equipped to tackle the complex challenges of pain research and drug discovery. Their collaborative efforts have led to groundbreaking advancements in non-addictive pain therapeutics, supported by numerous NIH grants, high-impact publications, and industry partnerships. Faculty members actively contribute to mentoring trainees, developing innovative screening platforms, and integrating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and high-throughput assays into their research. This interdisciplinary team forms the backbone of CAPToR’s mission to transform pain management through scientific excellence and translational innovation.
Director
Rajesh Khanna Ph.D.
Dr. Rajesh Khanna is a distinguished pain researcher and academic leader with a strong background in physiology, pharmacology, and toxicology. He has held faculty positions at institutions including IUPUI, the University of Arizona, and NYU, where he directed major pain research initiatives. His work has led to the founding of Regulonix LLC and earned him recognition as a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors. Now at the University of Florida, Dr. Khanna leads CAPToR with a focus on preclinical pain research and therapeutic innovation. He serves on the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee and the Board of Directors of the United States Association for the Study of Pain, reflecting his national leadership in the field.
Affiliate Faculty
Department:
Medicinal Chemistry
Christopher R McCurdy Ph.D., F.A.A.P.S.
Professor And The Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair; Associate Dean for Faculty Development; Director Of The UF Translational Drug Development Core
Department:
Pharmaceutics
Abhisheak Sharma M.Pharm., Ph.D.
Associate Chair, Co-Director and Assistant Professor
Department:
Small Animal Clinical Sciences
Elizabeth A Maxwell
Service Chief, Assistant Professor, Surgical Oncology
Department:
Department of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine
Ludovica Chiavaccini DVM, DES, MSc, DACVAA
Clinical Associate Professor – Anesthesiology
