Dr Charlotte KrahéPerceived social threat in chronic painIn addition to physical distress, such as pain and fatigue, chronic pain is linked with experiencingsocial distress. Chronic pain patients often report feeling socially isolated and disconnectedfrom others. We currently do not fully understand the processes that cause this heightenedsocial distress, we want to test whether being sensitive to social threat plays a key role. Socialthreat includes worrying about threats to our body (e.g., someone harming us or worsening ourpain directly) or threats to how socially connected and safe we feel around others. People withchronic pain are generally more aware of threats around them, but we do not know if this alsoapplies to social threats.In Study 1, we will investigate social threat related to physical safety. We focus on personalspace, specifically the point at which footsteps approaching are felt as uncomfortably close.In Study 2, we investigate threats to social connectedness. We will briefly make people feelsocially excluded through using a virtual ball tossing game. We will study whether this briefexclusion leads to greater social threat in chronic-pain than pain-free participants, and whetherit worsens in-the-moment pain.Together, the two studies can help us understand processes involved in social distress inchronic pain and allow us to develop ways to help people with chronic pain feel safer in theirsocial interactions. Ultimately, the findings may help create safer, more supportiveenvironments for people with chronic pain.Dr Maria MaiarúNovel botulinum-based construct for the treatment of chronic painPain is a protective mechanism necessary for survival that inform us of tissue damage that willrequire time to heal. While normally of biological benefit, pain can sometimes persist afterhealing or because of on-going disease and become chronic, a condition that is particularlydifficult to manage with currently available treatments. In the UK alone, chronic pain affects 15million people and remains a major clinical challenge.Botulinum neurotoxin/A (BoNT/A) injections are widely used in clinical practise to managechronic pain states such as migraine and peripheral neuropathic pain. However, the degree ofpain achieved is often modest and the use of BoNT/A is associated with high risk of muscleparalysis. We have therefore developed a non-paralytic version of the construct (el-iBoNT) toachieve pain relief without toxic effect. Nevertheless, the mechanism through which this painrelief is attained remains unclear.Our aim is to use model and laboratory techniques to provide a better understanding of themolecular mechanism responsible for the analgesic effect of el-iBoNT and therefore to furtherpromote el-iBoNT as a novel approach for pain relief.
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