Exploring Innovative Approaches in Chronic Pain: Focus on Neuropathic pain and Spinal Cord Stimulation

Pain can be a debilitating long-term and persistent symptom in many medical conditions, adversely affecting quality of life. Neuropathic pain originates from nervous system damage, resulting in deficits in neural transmission leading to sensory, autonomic, and motor impairment. It affects 8% of the UK population, a figure likely to increase as many pathological conditions contribute to neuropathic pain (e.g., diabetes, stroke, and cancer). The available pharmacological therapies for neuropathic pain, including opioids and gabapentinoids, are ineffective and controversial. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), which involves electrical stimulation of the dorsal column, offers a valuable treatment for chronic neuropathic pain sufferers unresponsive to medication. Despite advances in SCS devices for humans and the development of pre-clinical SCS models, the mechanism of SCS action remains poorly understood. Currently, there are no available animal models of SCS aligned with clinical procedures in patients. Thus, this PhD project endeavours to address this gap by: (1) developing an innovative pre-clinical SCS model aligned with clinical protocols, (2) characterizing neural response alterations induced by SCS and (3) correlating functional changes with pain experiences in animal models.

In summary, the proposed PhD project focuses on basic neuroscience research to understand the mechanisms of pain and analgesia using animal models. It involves a range of behavioural and neuroscientific methods (e.g., EEG, immunohistochemistry) in behaving animals and helps bridge the gap between basic and clinical research.

The successful candidate will acquire a broad range of research and technical skills, including experimental design, in vivo testing, surgery, ECAP/EEG recordings, and data analysis. The candidate will engage with the Graduate School’s Development Programme and the e-portfolio, as well as join a friendly, diverse, and multidisciplinary Pain Group formed by the supervisors, which includes academics and students from pharmacy, dentistry, neuroscience, and psychology. There will also be opportunities to interact and work with our industry partner, as well as participate in public engagement and commercialization activities.

Applicants should hold or expect to hold a 2:1 or 1st class degree in a biomedical science or equivalent subject. A Master’s degree or prior research experience would be advantageous.