Clinical ADVANTAGE Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Clinical Advantage: Advanced discovery of visceral analgesics by neuroimmune targets and the genetics of extreme human phenotypes: a comprehensive assessment of visceral pain.
IRAS ID
322886
Contact name
C Geoffrey Woods
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS FT and University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, days
Research summary
One in twenty individuals in the UK are disabled by visceral pain - approximately as many people as live in the entire country of Wales. The condition is a terrible burden for those who suffer from it: causing pain not only during the most intimate moments of their lives, but also frequently triggering unpredictable episodes of pain "flares" that can need hospital admission.
There are many conditions associated with visceral pain including: chronic pancreatitis, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, endometriosis, inflammatory bowel disease, painful bladder syndrome, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and vaginal mesh surgery.
This study is a collaboration between expert patients and clinicians, clinical and pre-clinical pain researchers, engineers, and industrial collaborators who are working together to try to develop new drugs and treatments – specifically tailored for chronic visceral pain.
We will be looking for people with chronic visceral pain, particularly those who have severe pain despite few signs of disease. We will also look for those who feel little no or pain despite advanced disease. We will record their pain using standard questionnaires but will also explore other ways to capture their experience; for example, using online apps and body sensors to record physical activity and physiological changes, for example heart rate, throughout the day. We hope to discover genes in humans that control pain. We also look to see if the immune system is involved.
Our aim is to improve our understanding of visceral pain from the perspective of people living with the condition, so that the NHS can develop and offer patients more effective interventions and support to address the diverse nature of their symptoms and help improve their quality of life.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0581
Date of REC Opinion
17 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion