About

Mohab Ibrahim, PhD, MD, is a professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson. He holds a dual degree, having earned both his MD in 2008 and his PhD in 2004 from the University of Arizona. His educational background also includes a Master of Science degree obtained in 2002 and a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998 from the same institution. Dr. Ibrahim completed his internship in Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine from 2008 to 2009, followed by a residency in Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, from 2009 to 2012. He further specialized with a fellowship in Clinical Pain Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, from 2012 to 2013. He is a tenured faculty member, serving as Program Director for the Pain Medicine Fellowship and Director of the Chronic Pain Clinic, with a focus on pain medicine.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Anesthesia
• Psychology
• Cell biology
• Neuroscience
• Surgery
• Virology
• Cancer research
• Biology
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Physical therapy
• Internal medicine
• Intensive care medicine
• Chemistry

Selected publications

• Evaluation of Dronabinol to Decrease Opioid Use for Cancer-Induced Bone Pain

  The Oncologist · 2026-04-25 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Bone metastases (BM) from breast cancer cause significant cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP). Management of CIBP is primarily with opioids, which have notable side effects. In preclinical models, cannabinoid receptor (CB)2 and CB1 agonists were shown to decrease CIBP and bone degradation. We hypothesized that the addition of CB2/CB1 agonists would decrease opioid requirements in patients with BM. METHODS: We conducted a single-arm study among breast cancer patients with BM on opioid therapy. Patients were treated with 10 mg dronabinol BID for 8 weeks. Our primary objective was to determine the proportion who decreased their opioid use by ≥ 20%. Participants completed the Brief Pain Inventory and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaires before and after treatment. Pre- and post-treatment blood and urine were collected for analysis of biomarkers of bone remodeling. RESULTS: We enrolled 14 evaluable patients, and 4 decreased opioid use by ≥ 20%, meeting the primary endpoint. Patients reported significant improvements in pain severity, interference scores, quality of life, and insomnia. There was one grade 3 adverse event (dizziness) related to the study drug. A significant decrease was noted in serum C-terminal telopeptide levels with therapy. CONCLUSION: Our pilot study shows that the addition of dronabinol resulted in decreased opioid requirements for CIBP. Patient-reported outcomes also demonstrated improved pain and QOL with addition of dronabinol. Our results are promising and warrant further investigation into novel analgesics for CIBP to decrease opioid use.

  PublisherDOI

• Postoperative multimodal pain management: a narrative review of current practices, clinical and educational gaps, and future directions

  Frontiers in Anesthesiology · 2025-12-19 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Pain is among the most commonly reported side effects following surgical interventions; however, its management remains a significant challenge due to its multifaceted nature, with studies indicating that up to 80% of surgical patients experience inadequate pain control. Although multimodal pain management (MMPM) is widely recommended as a tool to help mitigate the ongoing opioid epidemic, a universally standardized approach for pain management is lacking and highly dependent on individual clinician practices. Pain perception is inherently subjective, and while objective measurement tools are emerging, self-reported pain scales continue to dominate clinical practice. Differences in pain perception, further complicate efforts to standardize care, demonstrating the need for personalized approaches. Notably, there is a deficiency in surgical education regarding formalized training in postoperative pain management, which leaves medical students and residents without a concrete foundation in evidence-based pain management strategies. This narrative review explores the pathophysiology of pain, evaluates current recommendations in surgery, and emphasizes preoperative optimization. It also argues for, and underscores the necessity for, comprehensive and structured pain management education across all surgical specialties. Furthermore, the review identifies future directions, particularly in pain prediction and the development of surgical guidelines that can facilitate a comprehensive pain management framework while accommodating patient-specific modifications.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Independent Research Funding Success among National Institutes of Health–mentored KO8 and K23 Career Development Awardees in Anesthesiology

  Anesthesiology · 2025-10-14

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Optimizing Photoneuromodulation Techniques to Evaluate the Role of Green Light-Emitting Diodes in Pain Management

  Journal of Visualized Experiments · 2025-03-28 · 1 citations

  article

  Despite extensive research and the identification of numerous analgesic targets, the range of pharmacological treatments available for pain remains limited. However, a potential paradigm shift could introduce a new wave of non-pharmacological pain treatments with remarkable safety, efficacy, and tolerability. One promising area of investigation is photoneuromodulation using green light-emitting diodes (GLED, 525 nm), which have shown potential in alleviating pain in both acute and chronic conditions, leading to numerous preclinical and clinical studies exploring the efficacy of this therapy. These research projects have demonstrated how exposure to GLED enhances the activity of the endogenous opioid system in the brain and spinal cord after M-cone activation in the retina. The findings suggest that GLED may alleviate pain by modulating the descending pain pathway. In light of the compelling effects of GLED, the proliferation of photoneuromodulation investigations underscores the importance of establishing consistency in well-defined and standardized exposure protocols for preclinical and clinical trials. In preclinical studies, beneficial effects have been observed following a minimum of 2 days of exposure, with protocols involving 8 h of light at 100 lux during the 12 h light phase. In clinical trials, exposure protocols are tailored to the specific pathology under investigation. Exposure for 15 min has proven favorable in the modulation of acute post-surgical pain. For modulation of chronic pain, patients are instructed to use GLED at home for 1 to 2 h a day over 10 weeks. This article details preclinical and clinical protocols to improve reproducibility and consistency in the different studies evaluating photoneuromodulation benefits. By establishing these standardized protocols, this work aims to advance the clinical translation of GLED phototherapy as a viable non-pharmacological treatment for pain.

  PublisherDOI

• Conotoxin contulakin-G engages a neurotensin receptor 2/R-type calcium channel (Cav2.3) pathway to mediate spinal antinociception

  DRYAD · 2025-08-28

  datasetOpen access

  Intrathecal application of contulakin-G (CGX), a conotoxin peptide and a neurotensin analogue, has been demonstrated to be safe and potentially analgesic in humans. However, the mechanism of action for CGX analgesia is unknown. We hypothesized that spinal application of CGX produces antinociception through activation of the presynaptic neurotensin receptor (NTSR)2. In this study, we assessed the mechanisms of CGX antinociception in rodent models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Intrathecal administration of CGX, dose dependently, inhibited thermal and mechanical hypersensitivities in rodents of both sexes. Pharmacological and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 editing of NTSR2 reversed CGX-induced antinociception without affecting morphine analgesia. Electrophysiological and gene editing approaches demonstrated that CGX inhibition was dependent on the R-type voltagegated calcium channel (Cav2.3) in sensory neurons. Anatomical studies demonstrated coexpression of NTSR2 and Cav2.3 in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Finally, synaptic fractionation and slice electrophysiology recordings confirmed a predominantly presynaptic effect. Together, these data reveal a nonopioid pathway engaged by a human-tested drug to produce antinociception.

  PublisherDOI

• Prevalence and Predictors of High Family Impact in Chronic Pain: Findings from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey

  Journal of Pain · 2025-04-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Developing innovative teaching strategies for pain medicine rotations tailored to Generation Z

  Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine · 2025-02-03 · 3 citations

  letter

  Given the widespread prevalence of chronic pain, it is crucial for pain medicine providers to receive comprehensive education and training, ensuring they possess the necessary skills and confidence to address complex pain management cases effectively. However, a significant concern lies in the

  PublisherDOI

• Impact of Chronic Pain on the Families of U.S. Adults

  medRxiv · 2025-03-04

  preprintOpen access

  ABSTRACT Chronic pain (CP) can profoundly strain family systems, yet few population studies have explored CP with high impact on families. We used 2023 National Health Interview Survey Data (n=29,522) to characterize CP with high impact on families of U.S. adults. Findings are: (1) the prevalence of CP with high impact on families (HICP-Family) is 4.4% in U.S. adults and 18.1% in U.S. adults with CP; (2) HICP-Family is almost exclusively reported by those who have high impact chronic pain (HICP) that limits their individual functioning in life and work; (3) yet, among those with HICP, not all (46.3%) report HICP-Family; (4) HICP-Family can feasibly be modeled as a latter transition stage in a tiered cascade of advancing CP-associated impacts; (5) there is a strong association between clinically significant mental health symptoms and HICP-Family; HICP-Family is six times more prevalent among those who screen positive for moderate-to-severe anxiety or depression symptoms. Families highly impacted by CP may not be adequately resourced for adaptive functional resilience. HICP-Family may form an underappreciated barrier to achieving optimal pain and mental health outcomes for people with HICP. Further, without intervention, members of families highly impacted by CP may face heightened susceptibility to onset of suboptimal pain and mental health trajectories of their own. The need to develop effective supports and promote adaptive resilience in families highly impacted by CP is clear. Clinical tools to support person-centered assessment of family and relational functioning, effective family-level interventions, and innovative models of care are needed. IN BRIEF Establishes prevalence of chronic pain with high impact on families (HICP-Family); situates HICP-Family within emerging pain research frameworks.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Anti-CV2/CRMP5 autoantibodies as drivers of sensory neuron excitability and pain in rats

  Nature Communications · 2025-08-07 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access

  Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes arise from autoimmune reactions against nervous system antigens due to a maladaptive immune response to a peripheral cancer. Patients with small cell lung carcinoma or malignant thymoma can develop an autoimmune response against the CV2/collapsin response mediator protein 5 (CRMP5) antigen, with approximately 80% of these patients experiencing painful neuropathies. Here we investigate the mechanisms underlying anti-CV2/CRMP5 autoantibodies (CV2/CRMP5-Abs)-related pain and find that patient-derived CV2/CRMP5-Abs bind to their target on rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and superficial laminae of the spinal cord, to induce DRG neuron hyperexcitability and mechanical hypersensitivity. These effects from patient-derived Abs are recapitulated in rats immunized with a DNA vaccine for CRMP5, in which therapeutic treatment with anti-CD20 depleting B cells ameliorates autoimmunity and neuropathy. Our data thus reveal a mechanism of neuropathic pain in patients with paraneoplastic neurological syndromes and implicates CV2/CRMP5-Abs as a potential target for treating paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. Lung and thymoma cancer patients often suffer from autoimmunity and related painful neuropathies. Here the authors show that patient-derived anti-CRMP5 autoantibody binds to rat dorsal root ganglia to cause pain, that immunizing rats with CRMP5 recapitulates these phenotypes, and that depleting rat B cells with anti-CD20 ameliorates related symptoms.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Defining and validating a multidimensional digital metric of health states in chronic back and leg pain

  npj Digital Medicine · 2025-11-21 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Chronic pain (CP) is a debilitating condition that extends beyond persistent pain, influenced by physiological and psychological factors. However, clinical trials often evaluate outcomes solely on self-reported pain amplitude. To address this, we aimed to derive a single metric from multidimensional digital data to comprehensively represent wellness in lower back and leg pain. Daily-reported data were collected for five years (>190 K samples, n = 498, from NCT01719055/NCT03240588), comprised of clinical assessments, digitally-reported symptoms, text responses, and smartwatch-based actigraphy. Clustering analysis of the digital data identified five novel symptom clusters. They were validated by comparing centroid distances to standard assessments, revealing five ordinal best-to-worst states (r = 0.34 to r = -0.51, ps < 0.001), even when pain magnitude was similar. Further, patients' text messages about their status associated better with the clusters than pain reports alone. This solution extends beyond a recapitulation of pain level, yielding non-obvious, meaningful states that serve as an actionable metric in CP care.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Green Light Therapy for Chronic Pain

  NIH · $2.1M · 2018–2023

Frequent coauthors

• Amol Patwardhan

  Southwestern University

  63 shared

• Frank Porreca

  University of Arizona

  30 shared

• Todd W. Vanderah

  University of Arizona

  29 shared

• Rajesh Khanna

  University of Florida

  26 shared

• Alexandros Makriyannis

  26 shared

• Laurent Martin

  Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Amiens-Picardie

  23 shared

• Richard Rauck

  23 shared

• T. Philip Malan

  University of Arizona

  23 shared

Labs

• Pain MedicinePI