Bio

Dr. Nazanin Mahinparvar is a physician-scientist whose work brings together translational research, medical education, and procedural innovation. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran and is currently a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Stanford University.

As a faculty educator with the Stanford Anesthesia Summer Institute (SASI), She teaches skin anatomy, wound healing, local anesthesia, wound closure, and microsurgical skills through hands-on educational programs. She is also actively involved in global medical education and mentorship, supporting students and early-career trainees through research, procedural training, and career development.

Dr. Mahinparvar’s passion for pain research is deeply personal. Having experienced severe chronic pain during adolescence, she developed a lasting commitment to understanding pain mechanisms and improving the lives of patients through innovative, non-opioid therapies.

Beyond research, She has always been drawn to disciplines that combine creativity with precision. She enjoys watercolor painting, playing piano, nail art, LEGO model building, and other hands-on creative activities that require meticulous attention to detail. She believes dermatology uniquely integrates art, science, technology, communication, pathology, diagnosis, and procedural medicine, making it the specialty that best reflects both her professional interests and personal strengths. She aspires to build an academic career in dermatology as a physician-scientist, educator, and mentor dedicated to advancing patient care, and translational research.

Honors & Awards

  • GAIN26 Participation Scholarship Recipient, German Academic International Network (GAIN) (2026)
  • Stanford SPICE Grant Recipient – Suture Studio, Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Stanford University (2026)
  • Stanford SPICE Grant Recipient – NeuroCutaneous Medicine Dinner Club, Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Stanford University (2026)
  • Competitively Selected Participant – FDA-Regulated Non-Human Primate Research Training Program, Altasciences (2025)
  • Best Researcher Award, International Phenomenological Research Awards (PLR) (2024)
  • MD Capstone Research Project – High Honors, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (2016)
  • National Academic Distinction – Iranian National University Entrance Examination (Top 0.05%), National Organization of Educational Testing, Iran (2009)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Member, Society for Neuroscience (SfN) (2026 - Present)

Professional Education

  • Doctor of Medicine, University Of Isfahan (2019)

Community and International Work

  • Stanford–Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) Research Mentorship Program, tanford, California, and Bentonville, Arkansas — Virtual/Hybrid Collaboration

    Topic

    Research Education, Translational Neuroscience, Experimental Design, and Scientific Mentorship

    Partnering Organization(s)

    Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM), Stanford University School of Medicine, and Stanford Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

    Populations Served

    AWSOM medical students and Stanford postdoctoral scholars serving as research mentors.

    Location

    US

    Ongoing Project

    Yes

    Opportunities for Student Involvement

    No

  • Stanford Anesthesia Summer Institute (SASI), Stanford University, Stanford, California, and Virtual/Global

    Topic

    Medical Education, Clinical Skills, Healthcare Technology, Leadership, and Career Development

    Partnering Organization(s)

    Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University

    Populations Served

    Students and early-career learners who are exploring careers in medicine and healthcare

    Location

    International

    Ongoing Project

    Yes

    Opportunities for Student Involvement

    Yes

Links

All Publications

  • Oxytocin Receptors on Calvarial Periosteal Innervation: Therapeutic Target for Post-Traumatic Headache? Pharmaceutics Bharadwaj, V. N., Klukinov, M., Cowan, R. P., Mahinparvar, N., Clark, D. J., Yeomans, D. C. 2024; 16 (6)

    Abstract

    Following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), the most prevalent and profoundly debilitating occurrence is the emergence of an acute and persistent post-traumatic headache (PTH), for which there are presently no approved treatments. A crucial gap in knowledge exists regarding the consequences of an mTBI, which could serve as a foundation for the development of therapeutic approaches. The activation of trigeminal sensory nerve terminals that innervate the calvarial periosteum (CP)-a densely innervated tissue layer covering the calvarial skull-has been implicated in both migraines and PTHs. We have previously shown that trigeminal oxytocin receptors (OTRs) may provide a therapeutic target for PTHs. This study examined the expression of oxytocin receptors on trigeminal nerves innervating the periosteum and whether these receptors might serve as a therapeutic target for PTHs using a direct application of oxytocin to the periosteum in a rodent model of PTH.We used retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry to determine if trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons innervating the periosteum expressed OTRs and/or CGRPs. To model the impact of local inflammation that occurs following an mTBI, we applied chemical inflammatory mediators directly to the CP and assessed for changes in immediate-early gene expression as an indication of neuronal activation. We also determined whether mTBI would lead to expression changes to OTR levels. To determine whether these OTRs could be a viable therapeutic target, we assessed the impact of oxytocin injections into the CP in a mouse model of PTH-induced periorbital allodynia.The results of these experiments demonstrate the following: (1) the cell bodies of CP afferents reside in the TG and express both OTRs and CGRPs; (2) inflammatory chemical stimulation of the periosteum leads to rapid activation of TG neurons (phospho-ERK (p-ERK) expression), (3) mTBI-induced inflammation increased OTR expression compared to the sham group; and (4) administration of oxytocin into the periosteum on day 2 and day 40 blocked cutaneous allodynia for up to one hour post-administration for both acute and persistence phases in the PTH model-an effect that was preventable by the administration of an OTR antagonist.Taken together, our observations suggest that periosteal trigeminal afferents contribute to post-TBI craniofacial pain, and that periosteum tissue can be used as a potential local target for therapeutics such as oxytocin.

    View details for DOI 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060760

    View details for PubMedID 38931882