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―Reinvented!

For more than 30 years, APS has been driven to deliver high-level education designed to enhance research or clinical skills pertinent to pain management. In 2015, APS is taking this experience to new heights.

The 34th Annual Scientific Meeting will feature exciting new opportunities for attendee engagement and experiences that you should not miss!

In each issue of APS E-News, APS will feature a new opportunity to look forward to. Mark your calendars for May 13–16, 2015, and bring your desire to learn to Palm Springs, CA.

One of the biggest enhancements of the 2015 meeting is the Experience Exchange. The Experience Exchange defies the traditional expo. This open-format, interactive meeting place is designed to foster the exchange of groundbreaking scientific information through educational programming and networking opportunities.

The Experience Exchange will also include the Learning Lounge, an innovative interactive theater that will host Sessions Sound Bytes, (TED-style talks) featuring recaps of the most popular and relevant sessions, and Town Hall Talks on trending issues and topics for the pain community.

These are just a few of the new features coming your way at the 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting. We hope you will join us in Palm Springs, May 13–16. Registration will open in December.

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 is open on the APS website through November 21 and instructions for submissions are now available.

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

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!

Summaries

The Journal of Pain Highlights

The following highlights summarize selected articles from The Journal of Pain (Volume 15, Number 9, September 2014 Issue).

The Economic Costs of Chronic Pain Among a Cohort of Treatment-Seeking Adolescents in the United States
Cornelius B. Groenewald, Bonnie S. Essner, Davene Wright, Megan D. Fesinmeyer, and Tonya M. Palermo; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington

A new study published estimates that the economic cost of moderate to severe chronic pain in adolescents is $19.5 billion a year. Chronic pain affects about 5% of children and adolescents. They seek more medical care, use more medication, miss more school, and report worse quality of life than their peers without pain. Before this paper was published, little was known about the costs of chronic pain in childhood and adolescence. Researchers from the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Research Institute therefore sought to better understand the economic costs to society due to adolescent chronic pain. Study participants were 149 adolescents treated at interdisciplinary pain clinics. Parents of study subjects completed validated measures of family economic attributes and reports on family health services use and productivity losses for 12 months due to a child’s chronic pain.

Results of the study showed that the mean annual cost associated with chronic pain per participant was $11,787 and median cost was $6,770. Further, the costs tended to be concentrated in a small subset of the children. The top 5% of patients incurring the highest costs accounted for 30% of the total costs. The lower 75% of participants accounted for just 34% of the costs. Total costs for adolescents with moderate to severe chronic pain were extrapolated to $19.5 billion a year in the United States.

The authors concluded that future research should investigate the efficacy of a full range of less intensive outpatient interdisciplinary pain management interventions for adolescents with chronic pain, as well as Internet and mobile-based therapies.

Widespread Hyperalgesia in Adolescents with Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Results from a Large Population-Based Study
Niklas Stabellemail, Audun Stubhaug, Trond Flægstad, Emeran Mayer, Bruce D. Naliboff, and Christopher S. Nielsen; Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of North Norway, and Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Pain Management and Research, Oslo University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Oslo University, Oslo, Norway; Oppenheimer Family Center for the Neurobiology of Stress, Division of Digestive Diseases; Department of Medicine and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; and Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common cause of chronic or recurrent abdominal pain in children. A majority of patients with IBS show increased sensitivity to pain. Previous studies have shown that central pain mechanisms in IBS may contribute to chronic pain. Norwegian researchers performed a pain sensitivity study with 961 adolescents from the general population. They measured pain threshold and tolerance.

Results showed the prevalence of IBS in the adolescent population was higher than in adults in one previous study, 8% vs. 5%, but comparable to other adult IBS prevalence reports. The adolescents in the study had lower pain thresholds compared to controls, but there were no significant differences in pain tolerance measures.

The authors noted this is the first study of widespread hyperalgesia in adolescents with IBS. The findings suggest that central pain sensitization mechanisms in IBS may contribute to triggering and maintaining chronic pain symptoms.

PAIN Highlights

The following highlights summarize selected articles from PAIN (Volume 155, Number 9, September 2014 Issue).

Biased Agonism of the l-Opioid Receptor by TRV130 Increases Analgesia and Reduces On-Target Adverse Effects Versus Morphine: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Volunteers
David G. Soergel, Ruth Ann Subach, Nancy Burnham, Michael W. Lark, Ian E. James, Brian M. Sadler, Franck Skobieranda, Jonathan D. Violin, and Lynn R. Webster; Trevena, Inc, King of Prussia, PA; Hambel Statistical Consulting LLC, Wayne, PA; ICON plc, Hanover, MD; and CRI Lifetree Inc, Salt Lake City, UT

Preclinical models suggest that differential activation of signaling pathways downstream of µ-opioid receptors dissociates analgesia from adverse effects, but the dissociation has yet to translate to treatment with an improved therapeutic index. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, researchers specifically targeted the distinct molecular mechanisms that can dissociate analgesia from central nervous system adverse effects and increase analgesia. This study evaluated the effects of activating µ-opioid receptions by administering to 30 healthy men single intravenous injections of the biased ligand TRV130, placebo, or morphine. TRV130, a “G protein-biased” l-opioid ligand, was discovered to have G protein–coupling efficacy similar to that of morphine but markedly reduced receptor phosphorylation, engagement of β-arrestin2, and internalization. It was then tested to determine whether G protein–biased µ -opioid ligands might offer improved therapeutic profiles compared to currently prescribed opioid analgesics. The single-center (CRI Lifetree Inc, Salt Lake City, UT) study examined TRV130 doses of 1.5, 3, and 4.5 mg and a morphine dose of 10 mg. The placebo was 5% dextrose in water.

All studies doses of TRV130 resulted in rapid and significant increase in cold pain test (CPT) hand removal latency and produced a short-lived reduction in respiratory drive. Compared to morphine, TRV130 (3, 4.5 mg) elicited higher peak analgesia (105, 116 seconds latency vs 75 seconds for morphine, P < .02), with faster onset and similar duration of action. More subjects doubled latency or achieved maximum latency (180 seconds) with TRV130 (3, 4.5 mg). Respiratory drive reduction was greater after morphine than any TRV130 dose (–15.9 for morphine versus –.3, –7.6, and –9.4 h * L/ min, P < .05). Reported adverse effects appeared to be dose related, where TRV130 4.5 mg having an overall profile of adverse events similar to that with morphine but a greater incidence of nausea, dizziness, pruritus, and headache.

The Responsive Amygdala: Treatment-Induced Alterations in Functional Connectivity in Pediatric Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
L.E. Simons, M. Pielech, N. Erpelding, C. Linnman, E. Moulton, S. Sava, A. Lebel, P. Serrano, N. Sethna, C. Berde, L. Becerr, and D. Borsook; P.A.I.N. Group, Department of Anesthesia, Boston Children’s Hospital and Center for Pain and the Brain, Boston, MA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA

The researchers in this study sought to characterize and compare the functional connectivity of the amygdala in pediatric complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS) and healthy control subjects in response to previous findings that pain was persistent after symptom resolution in pediatric patients suggesting alterations in amygdala connectivity. They examined functional connectivity changes in the amygdala before and after intensive physical-biobehavioral treatment compared with age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects.

Twelve CRPS patients, ages 10–18 years with unilateral CRPS of the lower extremity were recruited from an intensive interdisciplinary pediatric pain rehabilitation program at Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center (PPRC) in addition to 12 healthy control subjects, individually age and sex matched. The program entailed intensive daily physical, occupational, and psychological therapies 8 hours per day, 5 days per week for a typical length of stay of 3 weeks. Psychological treatment included daily individual and group-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and families are actively incorporated. Psychological therapy targets include 1) teaching a self-management approach to pain, 2) addressing negative thinking and fears about pain, 3) engaging in valued activities and relationships in the presence of pain, and 4) reducing parental attention and protective responses to pain. During each study session, participants underwent a focused neurological examination and MRI scanning.

The study’s finding revealed the effects of pain rehabilitation treatment and connectivity between the amygdala and other areas of the brain, particularly those key to fear circuitry. Researchers also found rapid changes in amygdala connectivity after an aggressive treatment program in children with chronic pain and intrinsic amygdala functional connectivity activity serving as a potential indicator of treatment response.

Clinical Journal of Pain Highlights

The following highlights summarize selected articles from The Clinical Journal of Pain (Volume 30, Number 9, September 2014 Issue).

Investigation of Central Pain Processing in Postoperative Shoulder Pain and Disability
Carolina Valencia, Roger B. Fillingim, Mark Bishop, Samuel S. Wu, Thomas W. Wright, Michael Moser, Kevin Farmer, and Steven Z. George; Department of Applied Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sycamore; Center for Wellness & Applied Medicine, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN; Departments of Physical Therapy, Biostatistics, and Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; College of Dentistry, University of Florida; and North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL

Measures of central pain processing, such as conditioned pain modulation and suprathreshold heat pain response (SHPR), have been described to assess different components of central pain modulatory mechanisms. While central pain processing potentially plays a role in the development of postsurgical pain, the role of conditioned pain modulation (CPM) and SHPR in explaining postoperative clinical pain and disability remains unclear. A recent study investigated the effect of CPM and SHPR on postoperative clinical shoulder pain and disability. Researchers hypothesized that changes in these measures would facilitate the predictions of postoperative clinical pain and disability after age, sex, preoperative pain intensity, and relative psychological factors were considered.

Results of the study, which included 73 patients for the pain analyses and 77 patients for the disability analyses, indicated that 3 months change score of the fifth pain rating was still the unique significant predictor of 6 months clinical pain intensity even after controlling for baseline clinical pain. The study provided evidence that measures of central sensitization and psychological factors may play a differential role in determining risk of postoperative shoulder outcomes, with changes on SHPR being the unique contributor of pain intensity and disability in this particular sample. The data suggest that a postoperative decrease in an excitatory measure of pain sensitivity could be predictive of favorable clinical outcomes. Further, the results suggest that psychophysical assessment specifically of facilitatory pain sensitivity measures and measures of psychological distress are not redundant, that they measure different pain constructs from psychological distress.

The Bidirectional Relationship Between Pain Intensity and Sleep Disturbance/Quality in Patients With Low Back Pain
Saad M. Alsaadi, James H. McAuley, Julia M. Hush, Serigne Lo, Delwyn J. Bartlett, Roland R. Grunstein, and Chris G. Maher; Department of Physiotherapy, King Fahd Hospital of the University, The University of Dammam, Khobar, Saudi Arabia; The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine; The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney; Department of Health Professions, Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; and Neuroscience Research Australia and the School of Medical Sciences, the University of New South Wales, Randwick, Australia

There is quantitative evidence that sleep disturbance is a common feature of low back pain (LBP), with >50% of LBP patients in a qualitative study reporting reduced sleep quality because of their pain. A recent systematic review concluded that sleep disturbance in patients with LBP is associated with increased functional disability and high levels of psychological distress.

Recent evidence from both laboratory-based experiments and clinical studies suggests sleep disruption is an important modulator of pain. For example, induced sleep disturbance by reduction in total sleep time (TST) or deprivation of sleep stages in healthy pain-free volunteers has been found to lead to reports of musculoskeletal pain and decreased tolerance to noxious stimuli. Conversely, an increase in sleep quality also has been shown to have positive effects on musculoskeletal or osteoarthritic pain and to have greater effect than analgesic drugs.

The results of this study demonstrated that pain intensity and sleep disturbance have a bidirectional relationship for patients with LBP, where a night of poor sleep quality, difficulty falling sleep, wake after sleep onset (WASO), and low sleep efficiency (SE) were, on an average, followed by a day with higher pain intensity. Likewise a day with high pain intensity was followed, on an average, by a decrease in the subsequent night’s sleep quality and SE, and by an increase in the duration of sleep onset latency (SOL) and minutes of WASO. Researchers found a patient’s appraisal of sleep quality and the subjective evaluation of a night’s sleep, was strongly related to both the previous and next day’s pain.

Research

Letters of Intent Now Open for 2015 Sharon S. Keller Chronic Pain Research Grants

The call for letters of intent (LOIs) for the 2015 Sharon S. Keller Chronic Pain Research grants program is now open. This year, APS will again award up to four grants of $35,000 each to pain research proposals demonstrating the greatest merit and potential for success. Interested applicants are required to submit a 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 applicants with approved LOIs will be invited to submit a full application.

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

LOI submission is open September 8 through 11:59 pm EST, September 30.

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

Now Accepting Applications for the 2015 Clinical Centers of Excellence Program

The call for applications for the 2015 APS Clinical Centers of Excellence (CCOEs) in Pain Management Awards is now open. The CCOE Program awards the APS Center of Excellence designation annually to interdisciplinary healthcare teams that provide the most distinguished, comprehensive pain care. Pain management programs from across the United States—small and large, rural and urban, community and university-based—are all eligible to apply. The selection of awardees is based on judgment of the quality of services provided and not the size or type of the program.

The CCOE award recipients from 2007 to 2011 who have not received the award for a second time are eligible to apply. Past recipients must provide evidence of sustained excellence and fulfillment of CCOE assessment criteria.

APS has recognized 40 CCOEs since its inception in 2007. This distinction is one of APS’s highest honors in the area of clinical treatment. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 21. To apply, visit the CCOE application page.

APS Completes Another Successful Presence at PAINWeek

APS played an active role in the annual PAINWeek conference, September 3–6. As in prior years, APS conducted a special educational track, informational exhibit, and opioid Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) course.

This year’s educational track was organized by Immediate Past President Roger B. Fillingim, PhD, with a focus on the diagnosis and treatment of pain in women. New Developments in Evidence-Based Pain Assessment and Treatment featured the following lectures and APS speakers:

The APS exhibit helped to educate PAINWeek attendees on its constituency, purpose, products, and role in translating pain into relief. APS shared membership brochures, opioid REMS resources, and several fliers highlighting APS’s work in advocacy, education, research, and treatment.

The Extended-Release/Long-Acting Opioid REMS course was taught by Charles Argoff, MD, and Brett Snodgrass, NP. The course always generates many questions from the largely primary care prescriber audience, and this session was no exception.

Participation at PAINWeek continues to build awareness within the primary care community about APS while providing challenging educational insights. APS's presence and expertise were acknowledged and appreciated by PAINWeek organizers and attendees.

Society

Call for 2015 Election Nominations

The APS Nominating Committee is soliciting your nominations of candidates for positions on the 2015 board of directors and nominating committee.

The president-elect, treasurer, and three directors-at-large will be elected to take office at the 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting. Additionally, the 2015 seven-member Nominating Committee will be elected, which now includes two past presidents, two former board members, and three members-at-large.

Nominees must be APS regular members and should demonstrate leadership qualities; have the ability to develop, communicate, and sustain the society’s vision; possess strategic thinking, motivation, negotiation, and communication skills; and exhibit a sense of mission and dedication to the society, its members, and the purposes we serve. To learn more about position descriptions and eligibility, visit the APS Election Page.

Please submit your nomination(s) by Friday, October 10, by using the Nomination Form.

Thank you for participating in the selection of new leaders for the society.

Important Dates

Sharon S. Keller Chronic Pain Research Grants Program LOI Deadline
Tuesday, September 30

2015 Call for Election Nominations Deadline
Friday, October 10

2015 APS Clinical Centers of Excellence
Friday, November 21

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.