The Department of Anesthesiology at WashU Medicine had a strong presence at the American Headache Society Annual Scientific Meeting, held June 19–22, 2025, in Minneapolis. With multiple podium presentations, featured sessions, and national awards, our department was the most represented academic institution in the basic science of migraine—a clear reflection of our leadership in the field.
Amynah Pradhan, PhD, professor of anesthesiology and director of the Center for Clinical Pharmacology, was a featured speaker in the Sunday plenary session on refractory headache. Her talk, titled “Which Models Should We Use? How Do You Study/Decide?” explored experimental models used in studying refractory migraine. She also participated in the Fireside Chat discussion “What Does Refractory Mean to You?”—offering expert insight into this complex and evolving topic.
Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD, assistant professor and principal investigator of the Pain Across the Lifespan (PAL) Lab, was highlighted in the “Hot Topics in Basic Science” session. Her presentation, “Hormonal Factors Related to Migraine Prognosis,” addressed the critical role of hormones in migraine trajectories—especially relevant for patients across different life stages.
The scientific contributions of our trainees and early-career researchers were also widely recognized:
- Jhoan Aguilar, PhD student in the Pradhan Lab, delivered a podium talk on “Investigating the Role of Midbrain Perineuronal Nets in a Headache Mouse Model,” introducing perineuronal nets as a novel modulator in migraine chronification.
- Yaseen Awad-Igbaria, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Pradhan Lab, presented on “Endogenous Opioids Acting at the Delta Opioid Receptor Regulate Recovery from Chronic Migraine Associated Pain,” highlighting the delta opioid receptor’s potential in therapeutic recovery.
- Róli R. Simões, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Cao Lab, discussed “Therapeutic Potential of Low-Dose IL-2 in Stress Triggered Migraine,” a promising new direction for treating stress-induced migraines.
Both Awad-Igbaria and Simões received Frontiers in Headache Research Scholarships—a prestigious recognition awarded to early-career researchers presenting innovative work in the field.
- Yaseen Awad-Igbaria: NAD+ Precursors in Chronic Migraine Models
- Róli R. Simões: Low-Dose IL-2 to Alleviate Stress-Related Migraine
As a department, our scientists, clinicians, and trainees continue to push the boundaries of pain and headache research. This year’s presence at the AHS meeting reflected our ongoing leadership and our commitment to shaping the future of the field.
