John Liebeskind; Pioneer in Pain Relief Research

John C. Liebeskind, an internationally respected pioneer in pain relief research, has died at age 62.

Liebeskind, who taught psychology and anesthesiology at UCLA for more than 30 years, died of cancer Sept. 8, UCLA officials said this week.

In the early 1970s, Liebeskind became one of the first to conduct research on brain activity and the sensations of pain.

In 1993, he published a study in the international journal Pain showing that unmanaged pain can suppress the immune system’s natural killer cells, which play an important role in fighting cancer. Pain, he said, should not be regarded as a mere symptom of an underlying disease, but can itself cause tumors to spread more rapidly.

Liebeskind said in an interview with The Times in 1991 that many medical educators “say that pain does not kill, therefore presumably it is not worth studying--and sometimes not even worth treating. [But] pain can kill.”

Liebeskind throughout his career advocated greater attention to pain management by hospitals and more education about pain for medical students.

Although a few premed and nursing students found their way into his solitary elective pain course at UCLA, he said six years ago, “the vast majority get no formal classroom training in pain management.”

Liebeskind was president of the American Pain Society and earned its award for distinction in pain research in 1995. He was also elected that year to the National Academy of Sciences.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his doctorate from the University of Michigan.

Liebeskind is survived by his wife, Julia; sons Gabriel, Nicholas and Benjamin; and sister, Lois Levine.

The family has asked that any memorial contributions be made to the UC Regents at the John C. Liebeskind History of Pain Project, UCLA, Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, 12-077 CHS Box 951798, Los Angeles 90095-1798.