Pain Research Consortium
Andrew Shepherd, Ph.D.
Chair
- Departments, Labs and Institutes
- Research Centers and Programs
- Pain Research Consortium
Despite pain management, more than half of all patients treated for cancer report pain which is moderate or severe. Pain is poorly managed and can persist into survivorship.
Why MD Anderson?
- As the world’s largest Cancer Center, we have the greatest need and opportunity to end pain for cancer patients and survivors
- The Pain Research Consortium unites and focuses MD Anderson’s existing expertise and resources and will draw new international talent to succeed in ending cancer pain
Pillars
A Translational Pain Research Program
Acquire P01/R01 grants to bring together institutional talent
Develop collaborations via a seed funding program to discover new mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets and measures of cancer-related pain
Share research findings via networking events and annual meetings
Attract and retain top researchers through integrated talent management
An Infrastructure to Support Success
Establish a data pipeline for outcomes assessment and prediction
Acquire leading-edge technology to accelerate discovery
Leverage existing assets (e.g. APOLLO) to form a pain-specific tissue bank
A World-Class Pain Education Program
Create a seminar series focused on advanced concepts and cutting-edge technology
Develop and market a pain training course with unique emphasis on pain related to cancer and its treatment
Obtain federal training grants
Impact/Deliverables:
- A comprehensive, integrated approach to develop diagnostic tools and novel, non-addictive treatments for pain
- Deployment of a platform for subjective and objective diagnosis and assessment of pain
- An educational program for pain researchers and clinicians, delivering training on fundamental concepts and emerging ideas in pain research
- Funded by philanthropic contributions, collaboration with pharma companies and federal grants