Biomarkers and New Therapeutics for Pain – A Novel Neurosteroid Intervention

Jennifer C. Naylor, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine and the Deputy Director for the VA VISN 6 Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC). Dr. Naylor is also a Clinical Psychologist at the Durham VA, specializing in behavioral strategies for chronic pain management with the Durham VA Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic (DIPC). She serves as a member of the Scientific Merit Review Board for the Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D) Service and is Chair of the Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D) Career Development Program Subcommittee. She also Co-Chairs the Durham VAHCS Institutional Review Board (IRB) and is actively engaged in the Durham VAHCS Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Dr. Naylor's research interests include investigating the use of neurosteroids and other small molecules as novel pharmacological interventions for chronic pain disorders and commonly co-occurring conditions. Dr. Naylor conducts clinical trials that are informed by biomarkers of risk, resilience, and therapeutic response, translating these efforts to effective and well-tolerated treatments.