What if chronic pain relief could come not from a pill bottle, but from a headset? That’s the focus of the groundbreaking research by Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, funded by the National Institutes of Health. Colloca, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and director of the Placebo Beyond Opinions Center, is studying how immersive virtual reality (VR) can reduce pain and even replace the need for opioid medications in some patients.
Breakthroughs Can’t Wait
At the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), groundbreaking discoveries happen every day — transforming medicine, improving health, and shaping the future. From changing legal policy to pioneering treatments to cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, UMB researchers are tackling real-world challenges and making a lasting impact on lives everywhere. Dive into inspiring stories of innovation from across UMB’s seven schools. See how scientists, doctors, and experts are addressing today’s most pressing issues — fueled by the critical support of government funding that drives progress forward.
A Diabetes Drug for Bone Regrowth?
Could a pill designed for blood sugar control help rebuild the human jaw?
Dr. Abraham Schneider on Metformin's Second Act
Giving Every Baby a Strong Start
What if one of the most powerful tools for a baby’s lifelong health wasn’t a treatment or a test, but a caregiver’s touch?
Dr. Lisa Berlin on Infants' Earliest Relationships and Child Health Outcomes
Rewiring Relief
What if one of the most powerful ways to ease the side effects of cancer treatment didn’t come from a drug prescription, but from movement?
Dr. Ian Kleckner on Exercise, the Brain, and Chemotherapy Side Effects
Hitting the Brakes on Dangerous Inflammation
Could a new class of drugs rebalance the body and prevent excessive inflammation?
Drs. Paul Shapiro and Jeffrey Hasday's Work
Revolutionizing Emergency Medicine
Can an artificial blood product keep trauma victims alive until they can reach a medical facility?
Drs. Doctor and Gobburu's Work
AI as an Ally
What if your dentist had a second set of eyes — powered by AI — to help spot cancer earlier and improve patient outcomes?
Dr. Ahmed Sultan on Advancing Dental Diagnostics
Weight Loss Drug May Also Fight Addiction
University of Maryland School of Medicine Associate Professor Sarah M. Kattakuzhy, MD is set to begin a 16-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine if semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist sometimes marketed under names such as Ozempic and Wegovy, can safely improve drug use outcomes and reduce cocaine abuse among patients with Cocaine Use Disorder.
Learn about Sarah M. Kattakuzhy, MD's Work