Theme leads
Research Focus
This Theme is dedicated to advancing the treatment and management of chronic pain through a brain-targeted, mechanism-based approach. Chronic pain affects approximately 20% of adults globally and represents a significant public health and economic burden, costing the UK economy an estimated £1-30 billion annually. Current treatment strategies are often inadequate, leading to persistent pain, comorbid mental health conditions, addiction, and reduced quality of life. This research aims to generate a robust evidence base for personalised, neuroscience-informed interventions that address the underlying mechanisms of chronic pain rather than merely alleviating symptoms.
Regional Context
The research is led from Oxford, with collaborative input from Exeter and Birmingham. These centres bring together leading expertise in neuroscience, psychology, primary care, and data science. The partnership supports the development of multidisciplinary approaches and ensures that findings are applicable across diverse healthcare settings. The collaboration also facilitates access to large-scale patient datasets and clinical populations, enabling translational research that bridges laboratory discovery and real-world application.
Research Aims
The Theme is structured around five interrelated work packages (WPs), each designed to address a specific aspect of chronic pain management:
WP1: Sleep Interventions in Fibromyalgia
This work package will evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based digital sleep intervention (Sleepio) in improving cognitive function and reducing pain in individuals with fibromyalgia. The goal is to implement a validated sleep intervention within a chronic pain cohort during the funding period.
WP2: Psychological Interventions and Digital Biomarkers
This package will investigate the optimal targeting of psychological interventions for pain relief. It will focus on identifying behavioural, neural and digital biomarkers that guide and predict treatment response, with the aim of enhancing the precision and scalability of psychological therapies, for example using virtual reality.
WP3: Opioid Addiction in Primary Care
Addressing the growing issue of opioid dependence, this work will develop and evaluate a multidisciplinary, digital intervention delivered in primary care settings. The objective is to optimise and scale a treatment model that supports recovery from opioid addiction in patients with chronic pain.
WP4: Brain Mechanisms and Neurotechnology
This package will expand on existing research into the brain mechanisms underlying pain perception and persistence and use this to guide treatment innovation. It will support the development of novel brain stimulation systems, integrated with other technology-based interventions to treat chronic pain more effectively.
WP5: Predictive Modelling of Pain Persistence
Using data from the UK Biobank and Oxford-curated patient datasets, this work will identify biological, psychological, and social risk factors for pain vulnerability and chronicity, with the ultimate aim of predicting who is most at risk of developing persistent pain.
Impact
This Theme is positioned to deliver significant advances in the understanding and treatment of chronic pain. By focusing on mechanism-based, personalised approaches, the research will inform the development of more effective, targeted interventions. The integration of digital tools, predictive modelling, and neurotechnologies will support scalable solutions for clinical practice. Additionally, the Theme is committed to building research and clinical capacity, addressing regional disparities in access to pain care, and fostering innovation in pain science.
