FAER Pain Research Council Expanding

Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D., Chair
FAER Pain Research Council


eptember is National Pain Awareness Month, a time when all anesthesiologists should rejoice in our specialty’s contribution in this field. The first pain text of substance (2,000 pages!) was edited by anesthesiologist-pioneer John J. Bonica, M.D., more than 50 years ago. He also was the motivating influence in starting the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), one of the largest pain societies in the world.

Throughout the decades, anesthesiologists have played a leading role in advancing the principles of pain medicine practice. Moreover, our specialty created the field of interventional pain medicine, which now exists as a multispecialty practice. Basic research in pain mechanisms by scientists and physicians affiliated with anesthesiology departments has led the advancements in the elucidation of signaling pathways for the various types of pain perception.

In recognition of anesthesiology’s fundamental role in the development of pain medicine, the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) has established the Pain Research Council to monitor the direction in which pain research is moving and to stimulate the interest of philanthropic organizations to support funding for worthy pain medicine research studies. The committee is chaired by Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D., and committee members include James F. Arens, M.D., Timothy J. Brennen, M.D., Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., Timothy R. Deer, M.D., Simon Gelman, M.D., Ph.D., Alexander A. Hannenberg, M.D., Monte Lichtiger, M.D., Thomas P. Malan, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., James P. Rathmell, M.D., Richard W. Rosenquist, M.D., Ph.D., Alan D. Sessler, M.D., Suzanne Anderson, Thomas M. Bruckman, Glenn W. Johnson and Mary Schrandt. There have been a number of conference calls that have identified several strategies for aligning specific funding organizations with FAER-supported research topics of interest.

In an environment as competitive as grant funding, private sources can provide suitable start-up funds for the aspiring pain research scientist. Since pain research is a multidisciplinary endeavor, competition for private funds is keen. As always, if any member has personal contacts with or sits on the boards of any societies whose mission might align with anesthesiology’s mission to promote pain research and professional education, please contact Mr. Bruckman at (507) 266-6866.

Research in the Relief of Pain and Suffering in Cancer

Gilbert Y. Wong, M.D.

cientific research is producing new insights into the causes and cures of cancer, but efforts to manage the symptoms of the disease and the adverse effects of anticancer therapy have not kept pace, resulting in significant effects in 40 percent to 90 percent of cancer patients (Institutes of Medicine, 2001). The FAER New Investigator Award was instrumental in providing me with initial support to begin a research effort focused on identifying effective analgesic therapies to relieve the pain and suffering in those with cancer.

Pain in pancreatic cancer continues to be a major clinical challenge. With funding support from FAER, we tested the hypothesis that neurolytic coeliac plexus block (NCPB) provides significantly improved pain relief compared to optimized systemic analgesic therapy with opioids. The study showed that the NCPB provides significantly improved analgesia that is sustained over time.¹ This initial clinical work has led to the development of a transgenic mouse model of pancreatic cancer pain as part of a translational research effort (laboratory of Professor Patrick Mantyh, Ph.D., University of Minnesota). Our goal is to use this mouse model to understand the specific mechanisms involved in pancreatic cancer pain and then test novel analgesic therapies targeted at these identified pain mechanisms. Based on findings in this animal model, we plan to translate these results to humans.

Due to key initial FAER support, a number of focused areas of investigation have been subsequently developed in an effort to comprehensively study the mechanisms and analgesic therapies in 1) chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, 2) postsurgical neuropathic pain and 3) severe cancer-related pain states, in addition to pancreatic cancer pain. Improving the quality of lives of cancer patients by relieving pain and suffering continues to be a worthy challenge for our extended pain research effort.


Reference:
1. Wong GY, Schroeder DR, Carns PE, et al. Effect of neurolytic celiac plexus block on pain relief, quality of life, and survival in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2004; 291:1092-1099.