PROJECT: JTC 2025 - Pain: STRESSPAIN

Chronic neuropathic pain affects 7-10% of the population, is often refractory to treatment, imposes a significant burden on individuals, societies and economies worldwide, and therefore represents a major unmet clinical need. Stress and negative affect (anxiety or depression) co-occur with pain in over 50% of patients with neuropathic pain, however, precisely how stress and negative affect influence the severity and chronicity of neuropathic pain is unknown. The overarching aim of this project is to use an integrative, whole-systems, translational neuroscience approach employing preclinical and clinical research methodologies to advance understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms by which stress and negative affect exacerbate and/or prolong chronic neuropathic pain (with a focus on the descending pain modulatory system), and identify novel therapeutic strategies for improved management of chronic neuropathic pain. We have assembled a highly multidisciplinary network of experts in the basic and clinical neuroscience of pain, stress and negative affect, and in advanced data analytics, across 6 different countries. Our work plan addresses 4 key objectives, each of which straddle preclinical and clinical domains, in a cohesive and synergistic manner across 9 work packages. The project results will significantly advance understanding of the neural mechanisms of chronic neuropathic pain and its exacerbation by stress and negative affect, and unlock new therapeutic avenues.