We are a group led by prof. Stelio Pacca Loureiro Luna that studies pain and quality of life in animals at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp (São Paulo State University) - Botucatu campus (SP) - Brazil, and other institutions. Our research, supported by FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES, and other funding agencies, aims to identify pain in animals and develop valid and reliable pain scales, to alleviate the suffering of animals with analgesia.
All studies presented here were approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use of the institutions where they were carried out and follow the legislation and ethical principles for the use of animals in research in each country. The caretakers authorized the use of their animals through a free and informed consent form.
Our Team
Stelio Pacca Loureiro Luna
Scientific Studies Group Coordinator
Veterinary Doctor and Master’s degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP) and PhD from the University of Cambridge, England. Diplomate from the European College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. Full Professor at the FMVZ of Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP) where he has been working since 1987.
Alice Rodrigues de Oliveira
Developed the sedation scales in horses
Veterinary Doctor from the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS). Residency in Anesthesiology and Veterinary Emergency Medicine and Master’s degree from the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMS). PhD from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP).
Ana Lucélia de Araújo
Developed the pain scale in pigs
Veterinary Doctor at the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), with specialization in Veterinary Anesthesiology at UFCG. Master and PhD in Veterinary Medicine at UFCG. Professor at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Paraíba (IFPB).
Beatriz Monteiro
Developed the facial scale to assess pain in cats (Feline Grimace Scale), acted in the validation of the short version of the scale to assess pain in cats, and in the validation of the pain scale in cattle
Veterinary Doctor from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP) and PhD from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Canada. Resident in Animal Welfare from the American College of Animal Welfare and candidate for the Diploma in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law from the University of Edinburgh. Research Advisor, University of Montreal.
Caroline Marques Maia
Scientific disseminator of research
Biologist, Master and PhD in Zoology in the area of Animal Behavior and Welfare by the Biosciences Institute (IBB), Unesp, Botucatu (SP). Scientific consultant in animal behavior and welfare, Managing Director at IGVEC, Gilson Volpato Institute of Scientific Education. In 2016 she founded her Blog ConsCIÊNCIA Animal. Specialization in Scientific Journalism from Labjor da Unicamp, Campinas (SP) and responsible for the project of scientific dissemination of research by prof. Stelio Luna, with a FAPESP grant.
Flávia Augusta de Oliveira
Developed the pain scale in cattle
Veterinary Doctor from the University of the State of Santa Catarina (UDESC). Residency in Anesthesiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). (SP). Master and PhD in Anesthesiology from the School of Medicine (FMB) of Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). Veterinary Doctor at the Federal University of Tocantins, campus of Araguaína-TO.
Maíra Belli
Developed the clinical validation study of the short version of the pain scale in cats
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine and Residency in Veterinary Acupuncture from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). Postgraduate in Veterinary Acupuncture at Instituto Bioethicus.
Maria Gláucia Carlos de Oliveira
Developed the pain scale in donkeys
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine, Master and PhD from the Federal Rural University of Semi-árido (UFERSA).
Mariana Werneck Fonseca
Developed the pain scale in goats
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the School of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA) of Unesp. Residency in Veterinary Anesthesiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). Master and PhD from the School of Medicine (FMB) of Unesp, Botucatu campus.
Marilda Onghero Taffarel
Developed the pain scale in horses
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the Federal University of Paraná, Master from the Federal University of Espírito Santo and PhD from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). Associate Professor of the State University of Maringá.
Mayara Travalini de Lima
Developed research on sedation and pain in dogs
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine and Residency in Anesthesiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). Postgraduate in Veterinary Regional Anesthesia at I.E.P. Ranvier. Master and PhD from the School of Medicine of Botucatu (FMB) of Unesp.
Nuno Emanuel de Oliveira Figueiredo da Silva
Developed the pain scale in sheep
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine, with a Master’s Degree from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon. Master’s degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). PhD in Anesthesiology from the School of Medicine of Botucatu (FMB) of Unesp.
Paula Barreto da Rocha
Developed the clinical validation of the pain scale in horses
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). CAPES BRAFAGRI Scholarship in France (ONIRIS). Residency in Veterinary Anesthesiology at FMVZ (Unesp), Master and PhD at School of Medicine, Unesp Botucatu (SP) and visiting researcher at the University of Pennsylvania (USA).
Paulo Vinicius Mortensen Steagall
Developed the facial scale to assess pain in cats (Feline Grimace Scale), acted in the validation of the short version of the scale to assess pain in cats and in the validation of the pain scale in cattle
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine, Residence in Veterinary Anesthesiology, master and PhD from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). Diplomate from the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Professor at the FMV at the Université de Montréal, Canada since 2013, member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Global Pain Council and author of the book ‘Feline Anesthesia and Pain Management’.
Pedro Henrique Esteves Trindade
Developed research on pain in horses and is the group statistician
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University Center of Rio Preto – UNIRP, São José do Rio Preto (SP) and Master in Animal Science from the School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences at Unesp, Jaboticabal (SP). He works in the training of Good Practices and Animal Welfare at MAPA (Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply). Data analyst and ethologist in the research of the group coordinated by prof. Stelio Luna and other national and international groups. PhD from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP).
Renata Haddad Pinho
Developed the pain assessment scale in rabbits
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine at the School of Veterinary Medicine (FMVA), Unesp, Araçatuba (SP). Residency in Veterinary Anesthesiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Unesp, Botucatu campus (SP). Master and PhD from the School of Medicine (FMB) Unesp, Botucatu (SP).
Rubia Mitalli Tomacheuski
Developed the scale to assess pain in cattle
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine at Faculdades Integradas do Vale do Iguaçu – UNIGUAÇU. CAPES Scholarship Graduate grant (Murdoch University, Perth – Australia). Master from the State University of Maringá (UEM) and PhD from the School of Medicine (FMB), Unesp, Botucatu (SP). CAPES-Print scholarship holder for a sandwich PhD at the Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe Canada.
Valéria Veras de Paula
Developed the pain assessment scale in donkeys
Graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the State University of Ceará, Master from the Fluminense Federal University (UFF), PhD from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), University of São Paulo (USP). Postdoctoral Fellow at the École Nationale de Vétérinaire d’Álfort in Paris. Professor at the Federal Rural University of Semi-árido (UFERSA).