Duke associate professor of anesthesiology Andrea Nackley is a kind, passionate scientist, although her most notable quality is determination. 

As a first generation college student, a mother of two teenagers, and a triathlon athlete, she is nothing but dedicated. She challenges herself not only in a professional environment, but strives for personal and physical growth in her free time as well. 

Andrea Nackley, PhD, Duke School of Medicine

I had the pleasure of interviewing Nackley in her office and labs, where we discussed her life as a scientist, mom, and leader. When asked how she manages her many responsibilities, she responded with a single word: “acceptance.” Nackley accepts her busy schedule and strives to prioritize daily to make the most of every moment. 

As a young adult, she initially pursued the pre-med psychology path, with support from her hard-working family. She remembers a pivotal moment in her journey, in a biopsychology class where she studied brain circuits and the brain-behavior connection. She found this class absolutely riveting, and knew that this is where her passion lied. 

She describes pain, her research’s current focus, as a sixth sense of sorts, not quite like touch but something different and intriguing. Her approach to studying chronic pain is collaborative and aims to make her findings applicable to medical pursuits regarding pain management. She has even worked closely with a clinical trial centered in Duke, an experience that directly exemplifies this bench-to-bedside approach. 

A scene from the Translational Pain Research Laboratory, which Nackley leads

After earning her PhD at the University of Georgia, she moved to UNC Chapel Hill to complete a postdoctoral fellowship. In 2016 she moved to Duke, where she now leads an open-floor Translational Pain Research Laboratory and promotes an extraordinarily collaborative lab environment.

She has received grants for her work in vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, and peripheral ADRB3. When asked what her favorite aspect of working at Duke is, she endearingly responded with, “all the people here are just so… nice.” 

Nackley is close-knit with the individuals in her lab, a group ranging from high school students to postdocs, but especially with her lab manager, Marguerita Klein. 

Outside of work, she enjoys open-water swimming, training for an Olympic-length triathlon, baking, and cooking. She said baking allows her creative side to emerge, an often uncultivated aspect of any scientist’s left-dominant brain. 

Meeting Nackley and touring the innovative lab she cultivates was a wonderful experience, and I’m sure the future output from her work and leadership will be invaluable.

Post by Abigail Keaton, NCSSM Class of 2026