Frank Porreca

Frank Porreca is a Professor at the University of Arizona with cross-departmental affiliations in Pharmacology, Anesthesiology, Cancer Biology, and Neuroscience. As Associate Department Head in Pharmacology and a member of the Graduate Faculty, his research focuses on the neurobiology of pain and opioid receptor mechanisms.

• Academic Appointments: Professor (Anesthesiology, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology)
• Contact: frankp@arizona.edu | Office: 562 Life Sciences North

His research spans chronic pain, migraine pathophysiology, and opioid receptor signaling, with a particular emphasis on sex differences and hypothalamic-pituitary interactions. Recent studies explore prolactin-dependent pain mechanisms, green light analgesia, and novel bifunctional opioid ligands.

Article trends highlight interdisciplinary work in neuroimmunology, translational pain models, and sex-specific therapies. Key subfields include CGRP signaling, dynorphin/KOR pathways, nociceptor sensitization, and neurochemical modulation.