REGAIN investigates how people living with chronic pain use and experience novel neuro-technologies to alleviate pain. Chronic pain is a global health challenge of enormous proportions. Estimates claim that over 1.5 billion people live with chronic pain worldwide. Recently, technologies that electrically stimulate the nervous system to block pain signals promise new avenues to support people living with chronic pain. Especially in the United States, neural stimulation has made a comeback as a low-risk alternative to pain treatment with medication. As a result, patients, physicians, and companies are increasingly experimenting with new types of neuro-technologies that combine data analytics and brain modulation. Examples include wearable or implantable stimulators that operate automatically without requiring a patient’s or physician's supervision.
In this context, REGAIN investigates both the new potentials and risks that these new technologies bring about, especially from the perspective of users. The project uses qualitative methods from the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS) to study users' experience. The project engaged with users over a period of up to one month, for example, through chat interaction, diaries, and interviews. In addition, REGAIN also studies the societal dimension of neuro-technologies of pain, comparing the United States and Europe. As mentioned above, the US opioid crisis often forms the backdrop in front of which neuro-technology is positioned as a good alternative. REGAIN has thus also engaged with experts on the matter, including physicians, patient advocates, and company officials, to understand the broader context in which neuro-technologies are emerging. Here, REGAIN intends to offer a critical analysis of the promises but also potential risks of these technologies. Based on this knowledge, the final aim of the project is to highlight new pathways for developing and governing neuro-technologies for pain management in a responsible way, that is, anticipating risks while harnessing their potential.
The project has been terminated early due to an appointment of the researcher as assistant professor at the Technical University of Denmark. Still, the project made an important contribution to the emerging field of NTP as well as STS. The main preliminary finding of the project is that there are great benefits but also new vulnerabilities emerging especially at the intersection of the brain and digital data. As these issues are complex and interdisciplinary, REGAIN has helped foster new cross-disciplinary alliances between patient advocates, pain physicians, academic researchers, and industry representatives to jointly assess and anticipate potential risks.
