By Rebecca McKinseyPolicy steers clinical research priorities. Economic burden provides the fuel. And data turns the key to get the engine of research moving.But when it comes to chronic pain,…
By Jill WaldbieserFor decades, clinical trials—and specifically, randomized controlled trials (RCTs)—have been the backbone of clinical pain research. These experiments are the best way to determine whether a given treatment…
By Kirsten EllisStudying pain—or conducting any type of research involving people—requires a system of checks and balances to protect the rights, welfare, and privacy of participants.Before launching a clinical trial…
By Tom NorrisFor those of us living with chronic pain, being overlooked is part of the experience. But your voice matters in treatment, research, and the decisions that affect our…
By Rebecca McKinseyLindsey Wahlstrom and her daughter, Rona Edwards, during one of the clinical trials they participated in together.Rona Edwards—whose mom describes her as “a light and an absolute joy…
By Samantha KahnProviders and researchers routinely ask patients: “On a scale from 0 to 10, how would you rate your pain?”It’s a familiar question. But for people living with chronic…
By Julia DayeThe last decade has seen a boom in patient registries—databases that collect voluntary information from people who share a medical condition or type of pain. In 2017, there…
By Ashley HattleWhen research views individuals with pain as data points on a graph or medical curiosities, clinical trials may miss the mark on patients’ true realities and needs.A patient-centered…
By Mariah Z. LeachAiden Pratt and his mom, Katie Pratt.When Aiden Pratt was in seventh grade, he fell and hurt his foot while playing soccer. Doctors initially suspected a fracture,…
By Ashley HattleWhen you pick up your medication or see a pain specialist, you want the best possible care. But what if the development of those “best practices” and “standard-of-care…
Dive into Innovative Pain Science at 3 Leading Universities
The Science of Understanding Pain