Understanding and preventing persistent pain after surgery
Official title: Personalizing Perioperative Preventive Analgesia: Translational Studies Investigating the Biopsychosocial Underpinnings of Enhanced Pain Propensity
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10892778 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why some people have ongoing pain after surgery while others don’t, and it aims to find ways to help prevent that long-lasting pain so everyone can recover better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2018 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $519,100 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM128691-07 |
| Project ID | NIH-10892778 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals scheduled for surgery who may be at risk for developing persistent post-surgical pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing surgery or those with conditions unrelated to surgical pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates why some patients experience long-lasting pain after surgery while others do not. By studying patients before, during, and after various surgical procedures, the researchers aim to identify risk factors that contribute to persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP). They focus on how the nervous system amplifies pain signals and how this amplification can lead to chronic pain. The goal is to develop personalized strategies to prevent PPSP and improve recovery outcomes for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized pain management strategies that significantly reduce the incidence of chronic pain after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding pain mechanisms, but this approach aims to translate those findings into practical prevention strategies, making it a novel endeavor.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schreiber, Kristin — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Schreiber, Kristin
Related research
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Personalized perioperative pain prevention for high-risk patients
A research program at Stanford is exploring why some people have long-lasting pain after surgery and how to prevent it in patients who are most at risk.
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Sickle Cell Disease Pain Analgesia and Integrative Network for Better Pain Care
A national network is being built to better understand and manage pain in adults with sickle cell disease using integrative, whole-health approaches.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.