Dr. Diane Gromala, PhD, holds the Canada Research Chair in Computational Technologies for Transforming Pain and is a Full Professor in Simon Fraser University's School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT). Dr. Gromala is the Founding Director of the Pain Studies Lab and the Chronic Pain Research Institute.

Gromala's research works at the confluence of computer science and human-computer interaction design; it focuses on innovating health technologies, particularly in the realm of chronic, cancer and acute pain. Dr. Gromala worked at Apple Computer in the 1980s, and began immersive virtual reality (VR)research when she joined academia in 1990. Gromala worked at some of the most pioneering VR labs in the U.S., including the Human Interface Technology Lab (HITLab) at the University of Washington in Seattle, the GVU (Graphics, Visualization & Usability Center) and Virtually Better at Georgia Tech. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers on human-computer interaction, usability, VR and health research, and has been awarded research grants by CIHR, NIH, NSERC, NSF, SSHRC, CRC, CFI, as well as philanthropists and foundations. Gromala's research has been featured by the BBC, CBC, CNN, NHK, the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Discovery Channel and Cannes' Health Lions, to name a few.

From 2009–2014, Dr. Gromala served as the Director of Health Research in the GRAND (graphics, animation & new media) NCE (Networks of Centres of Excellence Canada).