Project description
A new approach for the prevention of chronic pain
Chronic pain is a health issue often associated with mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The ERC-funded MECHPAIN project will use a new transdiagnostic approach to analyse and treat the underlying mechanisms contributing to chronic pain across primary musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, and primary headaches, as well as related mental disorders. Since these types of pain are typically studied and treated separately, the project will test digital and virtual reality-based interventions that target these shared mechanisms. Meta-analyses and longitudinal data analysis will be used to identify these mechanisms and develop interventions aimed at core psychobiological processes. The goal is to make a meaningful contribution to chronic pain prevention.
Objective
Chronic pain is a major health problem typically associated with mental disorders such as depression or anxiety and is still difficult to treat despite enormous efforts in the biomedical community. This project proposes a radical shift from the symptomatic focus on chronic pain and predefined diagnostic categories to a mechanistic analysis and treatment of psychobiological factors that shape the transition to chronic pain and its associated mental diorders in a transdiagnostic approach. The proposal aims to identify transdiagnostic mechanisms of the development of chronic pain across three major diagnostic subtypes of pain (primary musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, primary headache) that are usually analyzed and treated in isolation and conducts a proof of principle study of mechanism-based modular digital and virtual reality-based interventions. Work package (WP) 1 will use meta-analyses to determine common and specific transdiagnostic mechanisms of chronicity across these three diverse pain disorders, WP 2 will analyze longitudinal data from existing databases on pain development, using machine learning and knowledge graph approaches. WP 3 will develop an assessment battery for core psychobiological mechanisms and identify predictors of chronicity as well as comorbidity with mental disorder across diagnostic groups using advanced unsupervised learning algorithms. WP 4 will devise easy to apply real life digital and virtual reality interventions that target core psychobiological processes. WP 5 will contain a proof of principle study that contrasts standard cognitive-behavioral pain management with the mechanism-based intervention modules. They will be applied in a digital format and contain virtual reality-based interventions. Statistical analyses will include linear mixed models, an n=1 design as well as a microrandomized trial. We believe that this transdiagnostic mechanistic approach will make a major contribution to the prevention of chronic pain.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
68159 Mannheim
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.