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

About the Project

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.

References

• Versantvoort EM, Dietz BE, Mugan D, Vuong QC, Luli S, Obara I. Evoked compound action potential (ECAP)-controlled closed-loop spinal cord stimulation in an experimental model of neuropathic pain in rats. Bioelectron Med. 2024;10(1):2.
• Maddison R, Nazar H, Obara I, Vuong QC. The efficacy of sensory neural entrainment on acute and chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Pain. 2023;17(2):126-141.
• Dietz BE, Mugan D, Vuong QC, Obara I. Electrically evoked compound action potentials in spinal cord stimulation: implications for preclinical research models. Neuromodulation. 2022;25(1):64-74.

Funding Notes

This project is suitable for self-funded students or students with third-party sponsorship. There is no dedicated funding from the university for this project. The student will be expected to provide funding for tuition fees and living expenses. UK students may be able to apply for a Doctoral Loan from Student Finance for financial support. Some students may be eligible to apply for supplemental funding.

Details about the tuition fees and a supplemental funding search tool are available on our website: View Website