Bath Centre for Pain Research
Welcome to the University Centre for Pain Research. CPR is an international and interdisciplinary centre aimed at discovery, innovation, and technology development for the control of pain, and the amelioration of pain related suffering led by Professor Chris Eccleston and team. Our principal investigators are at the forefront of their fields and we are pioneering developments in a number of important research areas.
1. The causes of persistent pain and disability
2. The impact of pain on children and families
3. Optimizing methods of assessment and treatment methods,
4. Evidence based pain management
5. Novel methods of analgesia and analgesic behaviour
6. Pain on locomotion, and sensory integration.
In the last 5 years we have created novel treatments for children with persistent pain, and have been a key part of a global campaign of awareness raising about childhood pain and suffering. Understanding childhood pain and suffering remains a major focus of our research.
A recent growth area is also in the use of technology to assist in living with chronic pain. Assistive Rehabilitative Technology, or ART, is a major new area of development for us. Making use of technological advancements to find ways of bringing treatments to people with pain is a core challenge in our centre.
The Centre for Pain Research is wholly dependent on external grants funding, and charitable donations. Should you wish to help us in any area of our research capacity building please see box on the right, or speak directly with Mr Gavin Maggs, the head of major gifts at the University of Bath on 01225 383054.
I hope that you find the information on these pages helpful. We are working on improving the downloadable free content to update you on the progress of our research.
Current research projects
- EPSRC Consortium bid for EQUAL 5 programme. £2,9100,000. Duration 10/07 to 09/11. Smart Rehabilitation: Personalised Therapy System for the self management of chronic conditions. Consortium bid with: Dr. G. Mountain (PI) (Sheffield Hallam University), Prof. C. Eccleston, Prof. N. Black (University of Ulster), Dr. N. Harris (RNHRD NHS Trust), Prof. M. Hawley (University of Bradford).
- ESRC £50,000. Duration 011/07 to 11/08. Perceptions of injustice in chronic pain. Dr. J. McParland (PI) (Glasgow Caledonian University) & Prof. C. Eccleston.
- Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases & NAPP pharmaceuticals. £354,000. Duration 11/04 to 10/08. Development of physician and patients instruments to assess attitudes to pain medication. Prof. C. Eccleston (PI) & Dr. L. McCracken.
- Arthritis Research Council. £209,000. Duration 11/04 to 11/08. Core support for pain and rehabilitation grants at the University of Bath and the Royal National Hospital for rheumatic diseases NHS Trust. Prof. D. Blake (PI), Prof. C. Eccleston, Dr. N. Hall, Dr. C. McCabe, Dr. NJ. McHugh.
- Funds for Scientific Research, Flanders. €232,900. Duration 9/06 to 9/09. When and how does directing attention away from pain affect the experience of pain? A meta-analysis and experimental approach. Prof. G. Crombez (PI) (The University of Ghent), Prof. C. Eccleston & Prof. S. Morley (The University of Leeds).
- Reckitt Benkiser. £149,800. Duration 9/07 to 9/08. Teenagers understandings of Over the Counter Medication. Prof. C. Eccleston (PI) & Prof. C. Griffin.
- Reckitt Benkiser. £199,900. Duration 9/07 to 9/08. The Development of a Pain Attention Test for repeated pain. Prof. C. Eccleston (PI) & Dr. E. Keogh.
Research partners
Royal United Hospital, Bath
Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath
Sheffield Hallam University
University of Ulster
University of Bradford
University of Glasgow Caledonia
Facilities available
Much of the clinical research is undertaken at the Bath Pain Management Unit and as part of the clinical programme in Complex Regional Pain Syndromes.