Michael S. Gold, PhD, Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology's Center for Pain Research, will receive the 30th F.W.L. Kerr award for Basic Science Research at the annual scientific meeting of the American Pain Society, to be held in Austin, TX, from May 11-14, 2016. The award recognizes individual excellence and achievements in pain research and is presented to a pain researcher whose total career achievements - innovative research, skilled mentorship and exceptional service - make outstanding contributions to the field.  Dr. Gold will be honored for his early work characterizing the role of voltage-gated Na+ channels in the initiation and maintenance of both inflammatory and neuropathic pain, as well as his more recent investigations into mechanisms of migraine and persistent inflammation. Dr. Gold employs a "reverse translation" strategy in his lab, working back from clinical problems to identify mechanistic underpinnings.