Funding Announcements

Clinical Evaluation of Adjuncts to Opioid Therapies for the Treatment of Chronic Pain (R01)

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) aims to fund applications designed to assess the clinical value of adjuncts prescribed to chronic pain patients together with opioid analgesics. Adjuncts of interest are either approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or have previously been studied as an investigational new drug. Studies with adjuncts of interest should be focused on enhancing analgesia rather than on reducing an adverse effect. A secondary purpose is to increase awareness among opioid prescribers of the potential value of adjunctive therapies by focused data dissemination.

It is hoped that by increasing availability of data describing the use of opioid adjuncts, their use will increase and levels of opioids needed for analgesia will diminish. Reductions in the dosage of opioids prescribed would improve the quality of life of chronic pain patients by reducing opioid-associated adverse effects and lowering the risk of addiction development.

Studies should examine clinical populations and address whether a proposed adjunct can reduce the dose of opioid required for analgesia compared with opioid monotherapy. Applications will be evaluated on the feasibility, scientific rigor, and likely value of the proposed outcomes of randomized control trials (RCTs) to study opioid-adjunct combinations. In addition, the investigators should describe their plan to disseminate the study results. This plan will be evaluated with a view to how effectively the study results will be communicated to the types of healthcare providers who typically prescribe opioids to the chronic pain population under examination.

The purpose of this FOA is to examine adjunctive therapies to reduce the need for opioids in chronic pain patients. Therefore, in the patient group under investigation the pain syndrome should chronologically precede opioid exposure and the opioids should be prescribed as a treatment for the pain.

In the population proposed to be studied, the subjects should be etiologically homogenous and symptomatically well defined. Examples of such chronic pain populations in which opioids often are prescribed include patients with radicular cervical pain, metastatic bone pain, or peripheral neuropathies.

Studies should use an RCT design to examine opioid and adjunct formulations that are either typically used in the outpatient chronic pain population under study or are feasible for daily use in that population. For example, a formulation that requires once a day oral dosing is likely to be of much higher programmatic interest than a formulation requiring multiple daily dosing or intrathecal administration. Adjuncts to be examined should preferably be FDA approved, examples of which would include pregabalin, duloxetine, or dronabinol. However, agents that currently are being (or previously have been) studied as investigational new drugs (for example, Sativex/Nabiximols) also will be considered.

Submissions were accepted beginning September 5 and letters of intent are due 30 days before applications are due. For more information about this funding opportunity, visit the NIH grants page.

Development of Opioid and Adjuvant Fixed Combination Dosage Forms for the Treatment of Chronic Pain with Reduced Addiction Potential (R41/R42)

This funding opportunity announcement seeks small business organizations to develop opioid and adjuvant drug combinations within a single dosage form for treatment of a pain condition. The drug combination should provide improved analgesia when compared with the same dose (morphine equivalents) of opioid monotherapy. Such dosage forms should minimize opioid exposure while optimizing analgesia to reduce risk of addiction and limit severity of other opiate adverse effects.

When designing this new product, investigators should consider FDA guidance (21 CFR 300.50) and address the following issues. Both of the agents contained in the proposed new product should currently have at least one existing FDA-approved indication, as well as some existing clinical evidence to support the use of the chosen adjuvant-opioid combination and a reasonable expectation that the combination will present minimal drug-drug interaction concerns. The application should emphasize available evidence that the chosen drugs and doses in the combination will allow a substantial patient population to gain sufficient analgesic value from the contained opioid dose while the adjuvant dose remains within a safe and effective "therapeutic window." One example of a potentially viable adjuvant is gabapentin, a drug known to reduce neuropathic pain and to which patients typically exhibit no more than mild adverse effects. Gabapentin typically does not induce substantial drug interactions because it is eliminated as parent drug by renal excretion and does not bind extensively to blood proteins.

The adjuvant should be chosen for a capacity to increase overall analgesia, rather than an ability to reduce opioid adverse effects. For example, inclusion of a poorly absorbed opioid receptor antagonist, with the intent of reducing constipation, would not be considered of high programmatic interest.

The combination dosage form proposed by the application should provide sustained relief when it is the only analgesic used and is administered no more than three times in a 24-hour period. The formulation should be such that a patient with reasonable mobility is able to self-administer the drug (e.g., oral dosage form).

The application should propose late-stage drug development–oriented studies that significantly drive the project toward an ultimate aim of a New Drug Application [505(b)(1 or 2)] or Abbreviated New Drug Application [505(j)] for the treatment of a long-term pain condition.

Studies planned for Phase 1 of the project should focus on issues that concern the feasibility of the project. The exact nature of such studies will differ depending on the proposed drug combination project.

Studies that might be appropriate for Phase 1 STTR applications include, but are not limited to

• development of a formulation that safely delivers the desired amount of both agents over an appropriate dosing interval
  
• preclinical studies demonstrating additive or synergistic analgesia with the opioid-adjuvant combination
  
• studies to provide data for an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission, such as short-term stability studies
  
• pre-IND consultations with an FDA project management group and development of the IND documentation.

Examples of projects appropriate for Phase 2 of an STTR award might include

• pharmacokinetic absorption and disposition studies to demonstrate the bioequivalence between approved dosage forms and the proposed product
  
• proof of concept clinical studies. Appropriate outcome measures might aim to detect and distinguish value added by an opioid adjunctive therapy, whether due to improved analgesia or reduced required opioid dosage.

Submissions were accepted beginning March 5 and letters of intent are due 30 days before applications are due. For more information about this funding opportunity, visit the NIH grants page.

Neurobiology of Migraine (R01)

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is issued by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pain Consortium. It solicits R01 grant applications from institutions and organizations to perform innovative research that will elucidate the mechanisms underlying migraine; expand our current knowledge of the role of genetic, physiological, biopsychosocial, and environmental influences in migraine susceptibility and progression; and explore new therapeutic targets and therapies for acute migraine management and longer term prevention.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is interested in research that would elucidate the mechanisms by which a given complementary or integrative health approach beneficially affects migraine, either as an acute intervention or prophylactically. For this FOA, complementary or integrative health approaches could include those within the “mind and body” domain but not in the “natural products” domain and would include, but are not limited to, meditation, mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, qi-gong, acupuncture, massage, and spinal manipulation. The primary outcomes for these studies should be focused directly on the mechanism(s), though it may be appropriate to have secondary outcomes that assess clinical outcomes. There should be sufficient prior data to indicate either efficacy or effectiveness of the proposed complementary or integrative health approach.

The National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is interested in the neurobiological mechanisms underlying migraine headache as they pertain to overlaps with pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic temporomandibular and other orofacial pain disorders. Research examining common genetic, environmental, neurobiological, and biobehavioral factors underlying the co-occurrence of these disorders is encouraged. NIDCR is interested in funding meritorious research that focuses on studies addressing the comorbidity of temporomandibular and other orofacial disorders and migraine headache.

NIDCR is interested in the development of diagnostic, interventional, and novel therapeutic tools for headache pain associated with a variety of communication disorders such as tinnitus, Meniere’s disease, odynophagia, and burning mouth syndrome. Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the program director or principal investigator (PD or PI) is invited to work with his or her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities always are encouraged to apply for NIH support.

Submissions will be accepted beginning May 5. For more information about this funding opportunity, visit the NIH grants page.

Education

2015 Annual Scientific Meeting Call for Poster Abstracts

APS invites the submission of abstracts for poster presentations at the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting, May 13–16, 2015, in Palm Springs, CA. The Call for Poster Abstracts will be available on the APS website August 15–November 21.

Instructions regarding abstract submissions will be available on Friday, August 15, on the APS website.

New for 2015! The accepted posters will be on display in the Experience Exchange (exhibit hall) for the duration of the exhibit and poster viewing times. APS will not “turn” the posters in Palm Springs. All posters will be on display and available for viewing during specified times. Poster presenters should plan to set up their posters on Wednesday, May 13, from 2 pm to 4:15 pm. Posters will remain on display until 10:30 am Friday, May 15.

Something's Different in Palm Springs...

34th Annual Scientific Meeting
May 13–16, 2015

The 34th Annual Scientific Meeting will be full of exciting new features, including

• poster sessions featuring all posters in one place at one time
• a new and improved exhibit hall
• and much more!

The 2015 meeting will give you the opportunity to

• discover the latest in basic science and clinical research
• experience a unique multidisciplinary forum for sharing advances and standards in evidence-based pain research and treatment
• discuss new trends, techniques, therapies, and diagnostic procedures
• network with the best and brightest in pain research

Save the date and prepare to experience something new. We hope to see you in Palm Springs!

NIH Funding Supports Development of a System to Monitor Emerging Drug Trends

A new National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) is currently being developed to monitor emerging trends that will assist health experts respond to potential outbreaks of illicit drugs rapidly and effectively. This new system will be able to scan social media and Web platforms to identify new trends as well as using conventional national- and local-level data resources.

The University of Maryland’s Center for Substance Abuse Research received 5 years of funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institute of Health (NIH), to develop NDEWS.

By monitoring trends at the local level, NIDA hopes to prevent problems from escalating or spreading to surrounding regions. The project will launch in August. Learn more about this system on the NIH website.

Members

Help APS Better Serve You

In an effort to better understand your professional needs as a member and to make the best and most informed decisions on APS programs, products, and services, APS is in the process of collecting updated information from its members.

You will notice that as you log in to the APS website to register for an event, purchase a product, etc., you will be greeted by a brief message and an easy-to-use form requesting some brief professional information. The form is prepopulated with your existing information, making it easy to keep your data current.

Once you update your information, you will not be prompted to do so again for 6 months. The goal is to keep our members’ professional information as up-to-date as possible so that we have an accurate assessment of APS’s professional makeup and are able to provide the best services, information, and value to all members.

We thank you in advance for your help!

Grow APS

As members of APS, you are part of a vibrant and diverse community of more than 2,200 multidisciplinary pain professionals who seek to increase the knowledge of pain and transform public policy and clinical practice to reduce pain-related suffering. Imagine if this vibrant community could double.

This is not beyond imagination. Doubling membership can be possible if you (and your fellow APS members) recruit just one colleague to join.

As our membership grows, so does our ability to add value for the members and pain community we serve. A stronger voice also means more influence to advocate for pain research funding and increased access to evidence-based, interdisciplinary pain care. You understand the value that APS delivers to you professionally and to the pain community and are in the perfect position to talk to others about the value of membership. APS is asking for your help.

Join us in our effort to grow APS membership:

• Invite one of your colleagues to join!
• Share the benefits of APS with your colleagues using our Online Recruitment Toolkit. Here you will find valuable information to share with your colleagues, such as discipline-specific flyers on the benefits of APS.
• Refer a colleague who is not yet an APS member to us by e-mailing his or her information to Jacky Liston at jliston@americanpainsociety.org.

For information about APS’s member benefits, visit the APS website. There, an individual can join online or download a printable application.

Thank you for your continued membership in APS and commitment to our vision of a world where pain prevention and relief are available to all people.

Welcome New Members

APS is pleased to welcome and recognize the following new members for June 2014:

Akinwumi Aladesawe
Shanna Babalonis
Veronica Bedoya
Robert Bolash
Patricia Burchell
Joel Burnett
Robert Gilbert
Kara Hannibal
Eric Holder
Lorna Keeton
Svetlana Kurklinsky
Sherry Leib
Lindsey May
Natalie Ocampo
Phillip Pham
David Richardson
Keith Sutton
Valeria Vasquez
Michael Weitzner
Victoria Wilding

Summaries

The Journal of Pain Highlights

The following highlights summarize selected articles from The Journal of Pain (Volume 15, Number 7, July 2014 Issue).

Who Uses a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and How? Insights from a Statewide Survey of Oregon Clinicians
Jessica M. Irvine, Sara E. Hallvik, Christi Hildebran, Miguel Marino, Todd Beran, and Richard A. Deyo; Acumentra Health, Portland, Oregon. Departments of Family Medicine, Medicine, and Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon; Center for Research in Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon; Division of Biostatistics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon; and Public Health Division of the Oregon Health Authority, Portland, Oregon.

As prescription drug abuse and overdose escalated nationwide, prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) have been implemented in every state, but little is known about the types of clinicians who make the most use of PDMPs. Researchers from Oregon Health and Sciences University examined the differences between prescribers of controlled substances who use PDMPs and those who do not.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have endorsed PDMPs as a way to reduce doctor and pharmacy shopping to obtain prescription drugs, which is associated with drug-related overdoes and death. Little is known about the characteristics of clinicians who use PDMPs and how they integrate them into clinical practice. The authors examined data from a statewide survey in Oregon to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of high and low users and nonusers of PDMPs. In addition, the survey identified when clinicians access PDMPs and actions they take as the result of this access.

From a database of more than 22,000 clinicians, the survey randomly sampled 650 high-frequency PDMP users, 650 low-frequency users, and 2,000 nonusers.

Results showed that respondents who were registered users of the state’s PDMP were more frequent prescribers of controlled substances than nonusers. Clinicians practicing in emergency medicine, primary care, and addiction specialties were the largest number of PDMP registrants. Most physicians (95%) accessed the PDMP when they suspected patient abuse or diversion. Fifty-four percent reported making mental health or substance abuse referrals and 36% said they sometimes discharge patients from their practices as a result of PDMP use.

The authors concluded that now that PDMPs are widely available, more attention to the use and impact of PDMPs is needed to maximize their clinical utility and make them more effective in both reducing drug misuse and increasing patient safety.

A Longitudinal Linear Model of Patient Characteristics to Predict Failure to Attend an Inner City Chronic Pain Clinic
Naum Shaparin, Robert White, Michael Andreae, Charles Hall, and Andrew Kaufman; Montefiore Pain Center, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; Department of Anesthesiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; and Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey.

Researchers from New York’s Montefiore Medical Center have identified patient characteristics that predict failure to keep appointments scheduled at inner city pain clinics.

They examined the impact of demographic factors on appointment status for some 1,400 patients with chronic pain. The authors hypothesized that certain patient characteristics, such as belonging to an ethnic or racial minority and not speaking English, would predict failure to comply with scheduled appointments. For the analysis, they collected retrospective data from a longitudinal cohort of patients with scheduled appointments at the New Jersey Medical School Department of Anesthesiology’s Pain Clinic in Newark.

Results indicated that both speaking Spanish as the primary language and living between 5 and 10 miles from the clinic were associated with reduced odds for arriving for an appointment. The findings suggest that not speaking English as one’s primary language may be a barrier to pain clinic appointment compliance and access to care.

The authors concluded, “If non-English speaking and other demographic characteristics are obstacles to access to chronic pain services, this should be addressed in a timely, considerate, respectful, culturally sensitive, and mutually understanding manner that will promote the doctor-patient with positive healthcare outcomes.”

PAIN Highlights

The following highlights summarize selected articles from PAIN (Volume 155, Number 7, July 2014 Issue and Volume 155, Number 8, August 2014 Issue).

The VGF-Derived Peptide TLQP-21 Contributes to Inflammatory and Nerve Injury-Induced Hypersensitivity
Carolyn A. Fairbanks, Cristina D. Peterson, Rebecca H. Speltz, Maureen S. Riedl, Kelley F. Kitto, Jaclyn A. Dykstra, Patrick D. Braun, Masato Sadahiro, Stephen R. Salton, and Lucy Vulchanova; Departments of Neuroscience, Pharmaceutics, and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Comparative and Molecular Biosciences Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, St. Paul; Fishberg Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

VGF (nonacronymic) is a granin-like protein that is packaged and proteolytically processed within the regulated secretory pathway. VGF and peptides derived from its processing have been implicated in neuroplasticity associated with learning, memory, depression, and chronic pain. In sensory neurons, VGF is rapidly increased following peripheral nerve injury and inflammation. Several bioactive peptides generated from the C-terminus of VGF have pronociceptive spinal effects. The goal of this study was to examine the spinal effects of the peptide TLQP-21 and determine whether it participates in spinal mechanisms of persistent pain.

Hyperalgesia was inhibited by a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor and inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. In mice injected intradermally with complete Freund-adjuvant, intrathecal treatment with anti-TLQP-21 immediately prior to or 5 hours after induction of inflammation dose dependently inhibited tactile hypersensitivity and thermal hyperalgesia. Intrathecal anti-TL21 administration also attenuated the development and maintenance of tactile hypersensitivity in the spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain. These results demonstrate spinal pronociceptive actions of the VGF-derived peptide TLQP-21 and evidence that the endogenous peptide participates in mechanisms associated with the development and maintenance of persistent pain.

These studies provide the first functional evidence for involvement of an endogenous VGF peptide in mechanisms of persistent pain and support the idea that VGF-derived peptides contribute critically to spinal neuroplasticity after inflammation and nerve injury. Further elucidation of this role necessitates an understanding of the relationship of TLQP- 21 to the other C-terminal VGF peptides known to modulate pain processing and characterization of their cellular and molecular targets and site(s) of synthesis.

Altered Structure and Function in Hippocampus and Medial Frontal Cortex in Patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome
Eli Eliav; Eastman Institute for Oral Health, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

In this commentary article, the author discusses burning mouth syndrome (BMS), a common and poorly understood condition characterized by constant burning oral pain. This pain occurs despite the normal appearance of the mucosa and without the presence of systemic or local pathologies that may induce this sensation. In the same issue of PAIN, an author group reports on altered structure and function in the medial prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus in patients with intraoral burning sensation.

Such abnormalities were also associated with mood and depression-related symptoms commonly reported among patients with BMS and other chronic pain conditions. Current evidence supports two main theories: The first is that BMS is induced by central and/or peripheral sensory neuropathy; the second suggests that BMS is a result of an imbalance between the gustatory and sensory systems. Both theories are supported by quantitative sensory testing studies that show altered tongue sensory thresholds, altered responses to external stimuli, and chorda tympani nerve hypofunction in patients with BMS.

The complicated multifactorial etiology suggests that the burning sensation experienced in BMS may be a common clinical phenotype to variable dysfunctions or pathologies affecting the peripheral and/or central nervous systems. This may represent a range of complex conditions that may not be limited to the oral cavity. A model in which chronic pain conditions demonstrate overlapping symptoms and pathophysiology should be further explored in the context of BMS and other chronic pain conditions.

The Clinical Journal of Pain Highlights

The following highlights summarize selected articles from The Clinical Journal of Pain (Volume 30, Number 7, July 2014 Issue).

Short-Term Effects of a Manual Therapy Protocol on Pain, Physical Function, Quality of Sleep, Depressive Symptoms, and Pressure Sensitivity in Women and Men with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Adelaida M. Castro-Sánchez, Maria E. Aguilar-Ferrándiz, Guillermo A. Matarán-Penarrocha, Maria del Mar Sánchez-Joya, Manuel Arroyo-Morales, and Cesar Fernández-de-las-Penas; Departments of Nursing, Physical Therapy and Medicine, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; Physical Therapy, Universidad de Granada; Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Granada; Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine; and Esthesiology Laboratory, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcon, Madrid, Spain

The literature demonstrates the efficacy of some manual therapies (MTs) in the treatment of women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). MTs include spinal and extremity joint manipulation or mobilization, massage, and various soft-tissue techniques. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of a MT protocol to improve pain, physical function, pressure pain thresholds, quality of sleep, and depressive symptoms in women and men with FMS. The experimental group (24 women and 21 men) received five sessions of MT and the control group (24 women and 21 men) did not receive any intervention.

The trial found that the application of an MT protocol was effective for improving pain intensity, widespread pressure pain sensitivity, impact of FMS symptoms, sleep quality, and depressive symptoms in individuals with FMS. In addition, sex differences were observed in response to treatment: women and men experience similar improvements in quality of sleep and tender point count, but women showed a greater reduction in pain and impact on FMS symptoms than men. Men, however, reported larger decreases in depressive symptoms and pressure hypersensitivity, which suggested a generalized hypoalgesic effect of the MT protocol. This can be expected because women report higher sensitivity to mechanical, ischemic, electric, thermal, and cold stimuli than men.

Future studies are needed to determine sex differences in response to the multiple therapeutic approaches commonly used in the management of FMS-related symptoms.

The Role of Opioid Prescription in Incident Opioid Abuse and Dependence Among Individuals with Chronic Noncancer Pain: The Role of Opioid Prescription
Mark J. Edlund, Bradley C. Martin, Joan E. Russo, Andrea DeVries, Jennifer B. Braden, and Mark D. Sullivan; RTI International, Behavioral Health Epidemiology, Research Triangle Park, NC; Division of Pharmaceutical Evaluation and Policy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; and HealthCore Inc., Wilmington, DE

This study investigated exposure to prescribed opioids as a risk factor for incident opioid use disorders (OUDs) among individuals with a new episode of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) who were not recently taking opioids while controlling for confounders such as mental health and substance abuse disorders. Investigators studied magnitude of OUD risk, the populations most vulnerable to OUDs, and the components of opioid exposure (such as daily dose and days used) most important in predicting OUDs.

Claims data from the HealthCore Database for 2000–2005 were analyzed. The dataset included all individuals ages 18 and older with a new CNCP episode (no diagnosis in the previous 6 months), and no opioid use or OUD in the prior 6 months (n = 568,640). Patients with CNCP who had taken opioids had significantly higher rates of OUDs than those not prescribed opioids. Effects varied by average daily dose and days of supply.

These types of epidemiological data can help clinicians weigh the risks and benefits of initiating opioid treatment for CNCP and determine the most appropriate treatment regimen. These findings suggest that the risk of an incident OUD is relatively small for an acute trial of opioids. If chronic opioid therapy is used, low-dose therapy poses much lower risk for OUDs than medium-dose therapy, and medium-dose therapy poses much lower risk than high-dose therapy.

Research

APS Award Nominations Close Tomorrow!

July 25 is your last day to submit nominations for the 2015 APS Awards program.

Every year at the annual scientific meeting, APS rewards excellence in the field of pain management and research by presenting awards for career achievement, scholarship in the area of pain, education and public service, advocacy on behalf of children, outstanding service to APS, and early career achievements. Please consider nominating your colleagues for one of the following awards:

• John and Emma Bonica Public Service Award
• Wilbert E. Fordyce Clinical Investigator Award
• Frederick W. L. Kerr Basic Science Research Award
• Jeffrey Lawson Award for Advocacy in Children’s Pain Relief
• John C. Liebeskind Early-Career Scholar Award
• Elizabeth Narcessian Award for Outstanding Educational Achievements in the Field of Pain
• Distinguished Service Award

Submit a nomination on the APS website.

Award winners will be announced in September and will be honored at the President’s Recognition Reception at the 34th Annual Scientific Meeting in Palm Springs, May 13–16, 2015.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 25.

2015 Sharon S. Keller Chronic Pain Research Grants Program Call for Letters of Intent Opens September 8

The call for Letters of Intent (LOIs) for the 2015 Sharon S. Keller Chronic Pain Research Grants Program opens September 8. This year APS will again award up to four grants in the amount of $35,000 each to pain research proposals demonstrating the greatest merit and potential for success. Interested applicants should submit a required 1-page LOI briefly describing the objective, aims, methods, and relevance of their proposed research. LOIs will undergo review to determine their responsiveness to this request. Only those whose LOIs are approved will be invited to submit a full application.

The Sharon S. Keller Chronic Pain Research Grants Program was established in 2013 to fund research projects that have a high likelihood of leading to new treatments or to increased access to or expansion of treatment options for people with chronic pain.

Letters of Intent may be submitted September 8 through midnight on September 30.

For more information on deadlines, eligibility, topics, and more, please visit the Sharon S. Keller Chronic Pain Research Grants Program on the APS website.

APS Continues to Establish a Presence at PAINWeek

For the third year in a row, several APS members will attend PAINWeek and share their expertise. Held in Las Vegas each September and attended by approximately 2,000 attendees, PAINWeek is the largest U.S. pain conference for the primary care clinician.

APS will host an exhibit to inform this audience of our work and foundational principles of science-grounded, evidence-based, interdisciplinary pain care. Those staffing the exhibit will distribute information about APS, issues of The Journal of Pain, annual scientific meeting announcements, clinical practice guideline references, and membership information.

Under the direction of APS Immediate Past President Roger B. Fillingim, PhD, another APS track will be held this year on Friday, September 5. This track was attended by more than 400 PAINWeek attendees last year. The 2014 track is titled “Pain in Women” and includes the following sessions and speakers:

• "Pain in Women: Clinical Evidence and Biopsychosocial Mechanisms," by Roger Fillingim, PhD
• "Vulvodynia: Clinical Profiles and Their Implications for Treatment," by Georgine Lamvu, MD MPH
• "Chronic Pelvic Pain: Biopsychosocial Factors," by Beth Darnall, PhD
• "Chronic Pain After Breast Cancer Treatment," by Robert Edwards, PhD

Charles Argoff, MD, and Brett B. Snodgrass, MSN APRN FNP-C, will take learners through the Opioid Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) course on Thursday, September 4, from 1:30–4:40 pm. This course, "REMS for ER/LA Opioids: Achieving Safe Use While Improving Patient Care," is a 3-hour session aimed at completing the entire Food and Drug Administration Opioid REMS blueprint and will target PAINWeek attendees and Las Vegas–area primary care prescribers.

Rita Allen Foundation Scholar Identifies Possible Target for Treating Chronic Pain

Diana Bautista, the Rita Allen Foundation Pain Scholar 2010–2013, was recently featured on NPR’s Morning Edition for her research exploring the Sichuan peppercorn, which produces a pleasant tingling feeling that may reveal secrets of the nervous system. Much of what we know about the nervous system has come from studying plants. The Sichuan peppercorn chemically mimics touch and also activates the same neurons that are affected in patients who suffer from tingling and numbing paresthesia. Her work may help lead to finding ways to switch off the buzzing feeling for people who live with this tingling sensation all the time. Read more.

Society

Western Pain Society Cosponsors Conquering Pain Locally, Regionally, and Nationally

Stanford University, the Western Pain Society, and the American Academy of Pain Medicine will cosponsor a 3-day educational conference, September 19–21, in Stanford, CA.

Conquering Pain Locally, Regionally, and Nationally will host international experts and national elders in pain assessment, treatment, pain research, and policy. The conference is the 2014 annual clinical meeting of the Western Pain Society.

Sessions will cover chronic pain assessment and management, pharmacology, complementary and alternative medicine, and pain psychology. The conference also includes an opioid Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) workshop and an ethics panel on the impact of patient satisfaction on clinicians. Attendees can earn a maximum of 15.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Additional details are available on the Stanford Medicine website.

Important Dates

Award Nominations Close
Friday, July 25

2015 APS Annual Scientific Meeting Call for Posters Open
Friday, August 15

2015 Call for Letters of Intent for Sharon S. Keller Chronic Pain Research Grants Program Opens
Monday, September 8

Clinical Centers of Excellence Nominations Open
Monday, September 8

Call for Submissions

Do you have a topic that is relevant to APS members? Is there a member who is doing work that APS should spotlight? Is there a funding opportunity APS members need to know about? Please submit stories, events, and more to enews@americanpainsociety.org for consideration.