Purdue Pharma L.P. Awards Grants to Further Research on the Assessment of Chronic Pain

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Purdue Pharma, L.P. today announced the funding of three grants for investigator-initiated research on developing clinically relevant and useful tools to assist in the assessment of chronic pain, including research on Virtual Reality (VR) technology to assess chronic pain intensity; electroencephalograph (EEG) alpha activity as an objective measurement of pain; and the relationship between pain and attentional processes and cognitive functioning.

Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process overseen by an independent steering committee. The following investigators and studies have been awarded research grants:

• David A. Seminowicz, Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, “Development of a reliable neurophysiological pain assessment tool: alpha as a predictive biomarker (APB).”

  The goal of this study is to determine the predictive accuracy, reliability, and specificity of EEG alpha activity in acute pain and a model of neuropathic pain in healthy subjects.

• Robert R. Edwards, Ph.D., Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, “Development and application of an objective measure of pain-related interference with cognition.”

  The goal of this research is to develop and apply an objective measure of pain-related interference with cognitive performance in patients with fibromyalgia. The proposed collaboration aims to identify a brief battery of clinically relevant cognitive tasks which are sensitive to variations in pain levels, and then to apply this battery in the context of a randomized, controlled trial of an empirically supported intervention.

• Tassilo Baeuerle, President & Chief Executive Officer, CognifiSense, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif., “Study on the use of virtual reality for pain measurement.”

  The goal of this research is to test the potential for the use of Virtual Reality technology as a clinically relevant/useful tool in the assessment of chronic pain. This study will also explore the potential of using movement and other metrics to assess pain intensity, and the association of specific movement parameters with pain.

“We are excited to support three investigator-led studies, which we believe will contribute important new information to our body of knowledge about the assessment of chronic pain,” said Monica Kwarcinski, PharmD, Head of Medical Affairs, Purdue Pharma L.P. “The assessment of pain levels is important in making a correct diagnosis, determining appropriate therapy, and studying responses to treatment. By addressing these data gaps through research funding, we remain committed to offering innovative solutions to make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives.”

ABOUT PURDUE PHARMA L.P.

Purdue Pharma L.P. is a privately held pharmaceutical company headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Purdue Pharma is part of a network of independent associated companies dedicated to providing patients and providers with innovative medicines. The company’s leadership and employees are committed to serving healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers by providing quality products and educational resources that make a positive impact on healthcare — and on lives. For more information, please visit www.purduepharma.com.

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