Translational Research in Pain (TRiP)

Contact us: 919-513-6854
cvm_cprl@ncsu.edu or FAX: 919-513-6680

Overview

The Translational Research in Pain (TRiP) team’s mission is to improve pain management in animals and humans.

We achieve this through:

• Developing methods to measure the impact of pain in animals
• Unraveling the neurobiological signature of pain in naturally occurring chronic disease in animals
• Testing novel therapeutics for pain relief in naturally occurring disease in animals

Ongoing Research

• Discovery of novel pain relieving approaches
  We also carefully collect and analyze blood and synovial fluid from pet dogs with painful conditions to investigate what is actually causing the pain on a molecular level. Tissue samples are collected from dogs to investigate neuronal changes that occur with chronic pain to discover unknown mechanisms and new pharmacological targets. The similarities between dogs and humans make these samples particularly useful for developing novel, effective, and safe therapeutics both in veterinary and human medicine.

• Chronic musculoskeletal pain in cats
  It is estimated that approximately 45% of all cats (and over 90% of cats over 10 years of age) show signs associated with musculoskeletal (e.g. joint) pain, making it the most common condition in cats. Our team develops ways to measure the disease and pain so that we can test potential therapeutics, and unravels the causes of musculoskeletal pain in cats. We use many approaches to measuring the impact of pain in cats, including activity monitors worn on the collar in the home environment.

• Chronic pain in dogs: a model of human chronic pain
  Naturally occurring osteoarthritis and osteosarcoma in pet dogs is very similar to the same conditions in humans. We study osteoarthritis and osteosarcoma in pet dogs as models of the human conditions, allowing us to both learn more about how to manage these painful conditions in dogs, and contribute to the development of non-opioid pain therapeutics in humans. We use a wide variety of validated subjective and objective outcome measures to assess putative analgesic drugs that may be developed for use. Watch this video where experts in the veterinary and human pain fields talk about how pets can contribute to human pain research and benefit themselves.

We also carefully collect and analyze blood and tissue from pet dogs with painful conditions to understand what is actually causing the pain, and to develop novel, effective and safe therapeutics.

• Evaluation of activity in dogs with osteoarthritis 
  ‘Wearable technology’ is a rapidly developing field, and may allow us to detect developing conditions, including pain, earlier. Such technology also has the potential to allow us to measure the impact of pain on overall activity, an animal’s ability to perform certain activities, and sleep quality, and of course to measure the benefit of therapeutics. We are actively working in this area to assess the utility of wearable technology in cats and dogs, and to develop ways to appropriately manage and interpret the data generated.

• Impact of early life pain on later chronic pain
  Many human babies are born prematurely, and are subject to multiple painful procedures early in life. Similarly, many young animals undergo painful procedures early in life. These early life painful experiences may make later painful conditions more painful due to ‘priming’ of the nervous system, probably through cells called Glia. We are working to understand the impact of early life painful experience on chronic pain later in life, and on understanding what may cause this.

Clinical Metrology Instruments

One goal of the Translational Research in Pain (TRiP) Program is to produce valid clinical metrology instruments (questionnaires) for the assessment of pain, physical function and quality of life.  These tools are targeted at measuring one or more of the impacts of pain:

• Pain (adverse sensory and emotional experience)
• Mobility (the quality of moving freely)
• Activity (the ability to perform specific activities)
• Affective Effects (mood, feelings)
• Sleep quality
• Cognitive Ability (ability to think and process information)

Resources

North Carolina State University Collaborators

• Clinical Orthopedics
• Pharmacology Analytical Laboratory
• Behavioral Research Group
• Dr. Mike Nolan (Cancer Pain)
• Dr. Santosh Mishra (Mechanisms of Pain)
• Dr. Kristen Messenger (Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics)
• Dr. Hans Westermeyer, Ocular Pain
• Dr. Natasha Olby (Neurogenic and Neuropathic Pain)

Journals

• Pain
• Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
• Anesthesia and Analgesia
• British Journal of Anaesthesia
• Journal of Pain
• Molecular Pain

Professional Organizations

• International Association for the Study of Pain
• IASP SIG on Non-Human Pain
• International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management
• European College of Veterinary Surgeons
• American College of Veterinary Surgeons
• American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
• CTSA One Health Alliance

External Collaborators

• Dr. Jo Murrell, University of Bristol, UK
• Dr. Paulo Steagall, University of Montreal, Canada
• Dr. William Maixner, Duke University, USA
• Dr. Mike Conzemius, University of Minnesota, USA
• Dr. John Innes, CVS PLC, UK
• Cytex Therapeutics (Cartilage Regeneration)

Publications

Recruiting

• Does Your Dog Have: Osteoarthritis? Mobility Problems? Limping
• Clinical Trial for Young Dogs (under 4 years old) with Arthritis
• IS YOUR DOG OVERWEIGHT?

Sponsors

The important work that has been performed in this program has been made possible by generous donations and research grants awarded. These donations and grants allow us to continue our work improve veterinarians’ ability to alleviate pain in animals, and to use this knowledge in human translational research to assist in the alleviation of pain in humans.

You can support the work of the Translational Research in Pain (TRiP) Program with a tax-deductible donation (please indicate the name of the lab in your gift).

We Are Grateful To Our Current Sponsors

We are very grateful to our current supporters and sponsors for helping us improve the alleviation of pain in dogs and cats:

• Boehringher Ingelheim
• Centrexion
• Elanco
• Jane T. Gaede
• Mary Jo Pringle
• Mike and Leigh Ann Gallucci
• Morris Animal Foundation
• National Institutes of Health (Small Business Technology Transfer)
• Nexvet
• Pharmalink International Limited
• Tina Angelichio
• Winn Feline Foundation

Research Team

Principal Investigators

Staff and Associates

Research Assistants