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About Us

At Velly's Lab, we are dedicated to advancing the field of pain research and management through cutting-edge studies and collaborative international projects. Led by Dr. Ana Velly, our team's research interests are focused on pain epidemiology, biomarkers, and the transition from acute to chronic pain. We are also actively involved in conducting randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to assess the effectiveness of pain management strategies and investigate the association between opioids, pneumonia, and cancer risks.

Our primary research interests include:

  • Pain Epidemiology: Understanding the prevalence, incidence, and distribution of pain conditions to develop effective management strategies for patients worldwide;
  • Biomarkers: Identifying and evaluating biological markers that can aid in the early diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized treatment of pain-related conditions;
  • Acute to Chronic Pain Transition: Investigating the factors associated with the transition from acute pain to chronic pain and the persistence of pain over time;
  • Randomized Clinical Trials: Conducting RCTs to rigorously assess the efficacy of pain management approaches and explore novel interventions;
  • Opioids: Examining the role of opioids in pain management and studying their potential impact on pneumonia and cancer risks;

Areas of Expertise:

  • Orofacial Pain: Focused research on pain conditions related to the mouth, jaws, and face, with the aim of improving diagnosis and treatment;
  • Pain: A comprehensive understanding of pain mechanisms and the development of innovative approaches to alleviate suffering;
  • Epidemiology: Utilizing epidemiological methods to study the occurrence and distribution of pain-related disorders in diverse populations;

Mission: Our mission is to contribute significantly to the understanding and management of pain-related conditions through scientific excellence, compassionate patient care, and international collaboration. We aspire to make a meaningful impact on global health and enhance the quality of life for individuals suffering from pain.

Join us on this journey to revolutionize pain research and improve the lives of millions. Together, we can make a difference.

For inquiries or collaboration opportunities, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you for visiting Velly's Lab!

                                             

Dr. Ana Velly

Dr. Ana Velly is an accomplished Associate Professor in the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences at McGill University.

Education:

DDS (Brazil)
M.Sc. in Neurologic Science
Ph.D. in Public Health with an orientation in Epidemiology from the Université de Montréal

Accomplishments:

Director of the Network for Canadian Oral Health Research (NCOHR)
Former Director of the Registry for NIH/NIDCR's Temporomandibular Joint Implant Registry and Repository (2006-2011)
Past President of the Neurosciences group of the International Association for Dental Research (2007-2009)
Former Councillor-at-Large for the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR) (2012-2016)
Current Chair of the Orofacial Pain Working Group of the NCOHR

Selected Awards and Honors:

Chair of Orofacial Pain Working Group of the Network for Canadian Oral Health Research (NCOHR)
Councilor-at-Large position, Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR)
Councilor, Neuroscience Group, International Association for Dental Research (IADR)
President, Neuroscience Group, International Association for Dental Research (IADR)
Dean’s Honor List, Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université de Montréal

Selected Publications:

"Management of Painful Temporomandibular Disorders: Methods and Overview of the National Dental PBRN Prospective Cohort Study." (2022)

Ana Miriam Velly, Sherif M. Elsaraj, Jack Botros, Firoozeh Samim, Zovinar der Khatchadourian, MervynGornitsky. (2022). The contribution of pain and disability on the transition from acute to chronic pain-relatedTMD: A 3-month prospective cohort study. Frontiers in Pain Research. 26(3): 956117.PublishedRefereed?: Yes, Open Access?: Yes

Paramita Saha-Chaudhuri, Lamin Juwara, Navpreet Arora, Mervyn Gornitsky, Ana Velly. (2020). Identifyingpredictive factors for neuropathicpain after breast cancer surgery using machine learning. InternationalJournal of Medical Informatics. 141(104170): 1-5.PublishedRefereed?: Yes, Open Access?: No

Cressatti M, Juwara L, Galindez JM, Velly AM, Nkurunziza ES, Marier S, Canie O, Gornistky M, SchipperHM. (2020). Characterization and heme oxygenase-1 content of extracellular vesicles in human biofluids.Journal of Neurochemistry. 00(1): 1-15.PublishedRefereed?: Yes, Open Access?: No

Velly AM, Look JO, Carlson C, Lenton PA, Kang W, Holcroft CA, Fricton JR. The effect of catastrophizing and depression on chronic pain--a prospective cohort study of temporomandibular muscle and joint pain disorders. Pain. 2011 Oct;152(10):2377-2383. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2011.07.004. Epub 2011 Aug 25. PMID: 21871734.

Dr. Ana Velly's extensive research and expertise have made significant contributions to the field of orofacial pain and dental medicine. Her work spans various aspects of pain management, epidemiology, and biomarkers.