Pain often resolves without treatment, but in some individuals, it can develop into persistent, intractable chronic pain. Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons adults in the U.S. seek medical care, and globally, an estimated one in five people suffer from chronic, treatment-resistant pain. Although various characteristics of pain have been linked to specific brain processes, our understanding of chronic pain remains incomplete. With support from the Brain Institute and the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia, the Human Brain Function Laboratory was established in August 2018 as a collaborative initiative to unite pain scientists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals in advancing pain research and developing innovative treatments for patients with intractable chronic pain.