Pain is multifaceted, complex, and a subjective experience. So, how do we make treatment more efficient? For Dr. Dario Pfyffer, the answer partly lies in the nervous system.
A Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford’s Division of Pain Medicine, Pfyffer’s primary objective in chronic pain research is to enhance his understanding of how pain is processed in the central nervous system through advanced brain and spinal cord imaging techniques. This knowledge will support doctors in diagnosing, predicting outcomes, and selecting the best treatments and rehabilitation strategies for their patients and families.
Growing up in Switzerland, Pfyffer’s academic journey began at ETH Zurich, where he pursued a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Neuroscience. His fascination with the complexities of the nervous system led him to specialize in clinical neuroscience and neuroimaging for his PhD. Pfyffer delved into spinal cord injury research at Balgrist University Hospital, focusing on the elusive nature of neuropathic pain—a condition that affects a significant portion of spinal cord injury patients.
Published in The Lancet Neurology, Pfyffer’s most recent study investigates whether preserved spinal tissue adjacent to an injury—in areas of nerve tissue that remain intact—can predict sensory and motor recovery. By applying standard MRI techniques to predict recovery outcomes for spinal cord injury patients, Pfyffer has shifted the paradigm from subjective clinical measures to more objective, data-driven predictions. This breakthrough not only enhances prognostic accuracy, but also promises more personalized treatment strategies.
Witnessing the real-world impact of his research is incredibly gratifying for Pfyffer. “I’m excited to already see the first implementations of our approach in the clinical care standard to develop more individualized treatment strategies,” he shared.
Pfyffer often says that the progress in understanding chronic pain in spinal cord injury and other conditions, and developing better treatments, is largely thanks to the dedication of study participants. Their willingness to contribute their experiences for the greater good deeply resonates with Pfyffer, fueling his commitment to advancing the field.
“I am very thankful to participants—this is a collaborative effort to advance human health.”
“We are constantly trying to shed more light on the neural underlyings of chronic pain and sensorimotor impairments, to develop more efficient treatments and rehabilitation approaches,” he says. “All this is only possible because of dedicated people with and without the lived experience of pain taking part in research studies and making their data available for research purposes. I am very thankful to participants—this is a collaborative effort to advance human health.”
Pfyffer is optimistic about the future of pain care. He is driven by the belief that through continued interdisciplinary efforts and a deeper understanding of pain mechanisms, we can develop more effective treatments. Pfyffer hopes his work makes patients feel supported, emphasizing that collaboration with the pain community is key for progress.
“Let’s not keep silent but approach this together—people with lived experience, researchers, and clinicians.”
“While it can be difficult to live with persistent, long-term pain, dedicated researchers and patient partners are always working to solve the problems caused by pain—and will not tire of this effort,” the researcher says. “So many people living with pain tell me how engaging with the pain community improved their quality of life. Let’s not keep silent but approach this together—people with lived experience, researchers, and clinicians.”
