Chronic pain affects a large proportion of the New South Wales population (17% of males and 20% of females aged 16 years or more).*

Pain often presents baffling symptoms, such as hypersensitivity following nerve damage and phantom pain from amputated limbs. Moreover, certain types of pain are notoriously difficult to treat.

By understanding the cellular mechanisms involved in pain transmission in normal, acute and chronic pain states, HMRI’s Pain Group aims to uncover potential therapeutic targets in the brainstem and spinal cord for altering pain perception.

Through studies of patients and animals, the group is also developing evidence based guidelines for effective clinical treatment of neck and back pain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Blyth FM, March LM, Brnabic AJM, Jorm LR, Williamson M, Cousins MJ. Chronic pain in Australia: a prevalence study. Pain 2001;89(2,3):127–34.