People

Hello, I'm Bryan!

My journey began in the humble town of Capoocan, Leyte in the Philippines. I'm a Registered Nurse, holding a Bachelor's degree in Nursing from Western Leyte College of Ormoc City. My fascination with the human body and its intricate workings led me to dedicate my career to helping others. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for research.

To further my education and delve into the world of research, I pursued advanced studies at Sahmyook University in Seoul, South Korea . There, I earned both my Master's and PhD degrees in Pharmacology, specializing in Neuropharmacology. Subsequently, I pursued postdoctoral training in molecular biology and functional genomics at the University of Texas - Dallas and later at the University of Wisconsin - Madison .

Today, I lead my own lab as part of the Translational Pain Research Group in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

My research primarily focuses on unraveling the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying chronic pain and its associated disorders, including addiction, depression, and anxiety. My ultimate goal is to develop effective and non-addictive pain therapeutics. I'm deeply passionate about my research because I firmly believe it has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of millions of individuals who suffer from chronic pain.

Jenna grew up in Springfield, Ohio, where she began to appreciate the intricacies of disease, including its cellular basis and multifactorial influences. Jenna further developed her fascination with the cellular and molecular underpinnings of physiology and pathophysiology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She pursued a bachelor’s in Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology and contextualized cellular phenomena in a broader social context through a Public Health minor. There Jenna also gained a deeper understanding of metabolic and nutritional influences on physiology and disease while pursuing a master’s in Biomedical Nutrition Science. Her undergraduate and graduate research focused on the interplay of transcriptional and metabolic processes on cellular differentiation and metabolic states, specifically in adipose tissues. In the de la Peña Lab, Jenna harnesses the rich information contained within human transcriptomic data and employs complementary wet lab approaches to identify biomarkers, cellular mechanisms, and therapeutic targets of various chronic pain conditions.

Maddy was born and raised in Bradenton, FL and earned a bachelor's in Biology from the University of South Florida. Here, they investigated cryptic genetic diversity in coastal isopod species. Maddy then entered the Biomedical Sciences graduate program in 2021, first working with Dr. Nikolaos Mellios studying circular RNAs (circRNAs) in psychiatric disorders before moving into Dr. de la Peña's lab. Maddy's research will focus on using circRNAs as biomarkers for facet joint osteoarthritis, with the goal of providing a diagnostic tool to enable earlier detection of the disease.

Madison is a native New Mexican, and was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has always had a deep passion for biology and chemistry and a strong desire to help others. She received her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of New Mexico with a minor in Spanish. During her time as an undergraduate Madison worked for four years in an engineering lab at Sandia National Laboratories where she focused on additive manufacturing and materials science. She also worked as part of the COVID-19 response team at Sandia National Laboratories during the pandemic to aid in COVID-19 testing for the employees and dependents of three National Laboratories. In her time as an undergrad, she had a deepened interest in physiology and pharmacology which furthered her interest in medicine and lifelong dream of becoming a physician. She is currently a first-year medical student at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and her research in Dr. de la Peña’s lab will focus on data analysis of demographics and trends in chronic pain patients from UNMH over a ten-year period, with the goal of bridging both the research aspect of chronic pain with the clinical aspect to work towards a solution for chronic pain and addiction. 

Sean was born and raised in the rural four corners region of northwestern New Mexico. Growing up in one of the most medically underserved regions in the country, Sean was inspired to pursue medicine watching his father’s work within rural and tribal communities. From a young age, he became acutely aware of the deep-rooted healthcare disparities faced by rural populations, fueling a lifelong commitment to studying and addressing health inequities.

Sean completed his undergraduate education through the Combined BA/MD Program at the University of New Mexico. Studying at the University of New Mexico and the University of Sheffield in the UK, Sean received a B.A. in Health, Medicine, and Human Values with a concentration in Health, Humanities & Society and a minor in Chemistry from the University of New Mexico in 2024. He is currently a first year medical student at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Sean’s research interests are shaped by personal and community experiences with chronic pain and neurological illness, particularly among workers in mining, farming, and oil fields who are chronically exposed to neurotoxic substances. In 2023, he joined the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at UNM as an undergraduate researcher studying the neuroimmune mechanisms underlying chronic neuropathic pain. In 2025, he joined the de la Peña Lab to continue this work, with a focus on the genetic and neuroimmune mechanisms driving chronic pain conditions.