Project description
Non-invasive cancer pain relief with neuromodulation
Pain is a common experience among cancer patients. According to estimates, more than half of cancer patients develop pain before death. While the majority can be treated with drugs, about 20 % may experience low response or adverse effects from medication. The EU-funded PAINLESS project will improve the knowledge of the variables that predict the occurrence of oncological pain and will provide a cost-effective and non-invasive solution for cancer patients suffering from chronic pain. It will investigate the role of central pain modulation mechanisms and the feasibility of using transcranial low-intensity electric stimulation at home for reducing pain in palliative care. The project will also design a web portal to monitor cancer patients’ status, and perform techno-economic analysis and health technology assessment of its proposal to improve the management of oncological pain.
Objective
More than 50% of cancer patients develop pain before death: 80% can be treated with drugs, but 20% show a low response or have serious adverse effects. Although non-pharmacological interventions such as neurosurgical procedures have been tested, these alternatives are not a preferred option to treat cancer pain due to their high cost, risk, invasiveness and not always proven efficacy.
PAINLESS addresses a core component of pain relief, by using an innovative, evidence-based approach. The objective is to adapt and implement a novel, cost-effective, home-based intervention based on neuromodulation to reduce pain and improve quality of life of cancer patients with chronic pain. On the assumption that treatment of chronic pain can benefit from research on the brain mechanisms of pain, we will first attempt to improve our understanding of the role of central pain modulation.
The project will be organized in 3 studies: 1) A cohort, longitudinal study (n=450) to explore whether the biomarkers of central pain modulation mechanisms can be predictive of the future occurrence of chronic pain in cancer patients; 2) A cross-sectional study to characterize and stratify cancer patients with vs. without chronic pain (750 patients with the proposed biomarkers and taking into account a number of moderator variables); 3) A pilot study (n=450) to assess the feasibility an efficacy of at-home delivery of transcranial low intensity electric stimulation (tES) for the palliative care of cancer patients suffering from pain
PAINLESS will develop a customized web portal to share knowledge and to improve management of the patients; perform techno-economic analyses and Health Technology Assessment of the solution; analyze the possibilities of implementation in different European healthcare systems and results exploitation; and undertake an ambitious dissemination and communication strategy. We will also propose a wide range of measures to ensure compliance with the highest ethical standars.
Fields of science
Keywords
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HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
15782 Santiago De Compostela
Spain
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Participants (17)
15703 Santiago De Compostela
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
36312 Vigo
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
15706 Santiago De Compostela
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37075 Goettingen
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9220 Aalborg
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500074 BRASOV
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32000 Haifa
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022328 Bucharest
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4200-072 Porto
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1800 Vilvoorde
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1210 Bruxelles / Brussel
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98693 Ilmenau
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
500 02 HRADEC KRALOVE
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
013685 Bucuresti
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
67087 Strasbourg
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80333 Munich
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1030 Bruxelles / Brussel
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Partners (1)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
CH-6500 Bellinzona
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