Our Research
Research performed by the Pain Research Institute focuses on chronic pain and conditions associated with chronic pain, for example, fibromylagia syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than 12 weeks.
In the UK, roughly 34% of adults report some form of chronic pain. Chronic pain is more common in women (38%) than men (30%), and its prevalence increases with age, ranging from 16% among young people aged 16-24 to 53% amongst those aged 75 years and over.
Management of chronic pain often requires multiple treatment strategies, as it is often accompanied by other conditions such as depression and irritable bowel syndrome. Treatment options may include medication (painkillers and/or antidepressants), therapy (physical and psychological), and non-pharmaceutical pain relief (e.g. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices). However, these options only manage the symptoms of chronic pain, rather than address the root cause.
Our research spans multiple fields within pain medicine, in order to determine and therefore treat the underlying cause of chronic pain. You can read more about different avenues of chronic pain research below: