PAINSTORM: Transforming Neuropathic Pain Understanding
europathic pain affects 8% of the population—caused by nerve damage from diabetes, chemotherapy, and HIV. Despite its devastating impact on quality of life, current treatments only work for a small subset of patients. Research remains fragmented across disciplines, over-emphasizing pharmacological approaches while neglecting the complex social and psychological dimensions.
The PAINSTORM consortium unites leading experts across traditional boundaries to uncover why some people develop severe neuropathic pain while others with similar nerve damage do not. We are following at-risk populations over time, combining cutting-edge technologies including brain imaging, genetic analysis, and remote monitoring with patient-centered research.
Our interdisciplinary consortium integrates patient voices, diverse clinical expertise, and industry partners to identify personal, environmental, and genetic risk factors. By understanding the mechanisms driving neuropathic pain and how risk factors interact, we are paving the way for targeted therapies and multifaceted interventions that address the whole person, and not just symptoms. Our goal: transform lives through truly personalized, interdisciplinary pain management.
Project details
Duration
July 7, 2012 - July 14, 2026
Funding
UKRI, MRC, Versus Arthritis
Research team
- Prof. Geert Crombez
- Prof. dr. Annick De Paepe
- Prof. Whitney Scott
- dr. Maya Braun (WP3) & many others
Key themes
Neuropathic pain - self-report measures - risk & protective factors - person-centered approach - causal modelling