Wexler Lab
Our lab is dedicated to developing and testing innovative approaches that integrate lifestyle approaches to health to support people living with chronic pain. We have completed several clinical trials that demonstrate the feasibility and potential benefits of these approaches, including trials of mindfulness-based programs for individuals with sciatica and chronic low back pain.
Building on this work, we are leading ongoing projects that explore how contemplative practices can be delivered virtually, how physical activity can enhance their effects, and how new technologies—such as machine learning—can help us better understand the process of healing.
Our team publishes in peer-reviewed journals to share discoveries with the scientific community and advance the field of pain and contemplative science. Publications are an important way to communicate the rigor of our work, ensure transparency, and contribute to the collective evidence base that guides clinical care. By making our findings publicly available, we help inform better treatments, foster collaboration, and ensure that research ultimately benefits patients and communities.
Meet the Team
It all begins with people. Doctors, scientists, patients - we are all people. Everyone is on a unique health journey and our goal is to understand how we can improve it.
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Dr. Ryan Wexler is a naturopathic physician-scientist and Assistant Professor at the Helfgott Research Institute at the National University of Natural Medicine. His research focuses on developing and evaluating multicomponent, mind-body interventions for patients with chronic pain, with particular emphasis on conditions involving nociplastic pain and central sensitization, such as chronic back pain and lumbosacral radiculopathy. Dr. Wexler uses mixed methods to examine how mind-body interventions affect physical function and psychosocial outcomes – including motivation, autonomy, and self-efficacy. His work also utilizes objective assessments including inertial measurement units, quantitative sensory testing, and actigraphy. He is particularly interested in the potential of digital health tools to increase accessibility and scalability of mind-body therapies. His planned projects involve web-based interventions to support behavior change and improve recovery in patients with musculoskeletal pain. His research centers community and patient engagement by integrating stakeholder feedback throughout the research process from intervention development to dissemination.
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Design DirectorIt all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
Investigators
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Dr. Zimmerman is a post-doctoral research investigator at the Helfgott Research Institute, receiving clinical research training through the NIH-funded BRIDG R90 program. He received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he studied the effects of cerebrovascular health on cognitive aging. At the Helfgott Research Institute, he is continuing his research on mitigating the effects of aging on the brain through holistic and complementary approaches, with a focus on the prevention of disease through early intervention, whole-person health, and tapping into mechanisms of salutogenesis. He is currently studying the effects of the botanical supplement Centella asiatica (gotu kola) on brain health and vasculature.
Collaborators
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Dr. Anna Parisi is a licensed clinical social worker and licensed clinical addictions specialist in the state of North Carolina. After graduating with her MSW from UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Parisi worked with individuals with comorbid mental health and substance use disorders in community mental health settings—many of whom were ensnared in the criminal legal system. Her experiences in community mental health have served as the foundation for her research, which is focused on understanding the pathogenic mechanisms that contribute to the development, maintenance, and recurrence of addictive behaviors, as well as the intersection between addiction and mental health. Ultimately, Dr. Parisi’s research aims to promote effective and equitable access to evidence-based practices in community mental health settings. She is particularly interested in improving services for system-impacted women. In addition to her MSW, Dr. Parisi has a BA in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a PhD in social work from UNC Chapel Hill.
Patient Partners
Research Assistants
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Dr. Callan is a Post-doctoral Research Investigator in the Helfgott Research Institute. Her passion for research stems from a deeply held belief that research – if designed and conducted accurately, ethically, and well – is a universal language that holds the power to unite disparate professions and philosophies around new discoveries that help bring about change for healthier people and a healthier planet. Dr. Callan received her doctoral degree in Naturopathic Medicine and her Master of Science in Integrative Medicine Research from National University of Natural Medicine in 2015. She completed research training in the NIH-funded BRIDG program as a T90 scholar at the University of Washington. Her research interests include non-pharmacological therapies for people living with chronic pain; the role of fascia in chronic pain and disease; women’s health; behavior change; and integrative therapies for cognitive decline.
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