Plastic Surgeon and Researchers Join Forces in Groundbreaking Chronic Pain Study
BOSTON – A plastic surgeon specializing in extremity injuries has teamed up with a group of Boston-based doctors in a pioneering effort to uncover the origins of chronic pain, a condition that afflicts over 51 million adults in the US. Dr. Rodrigo Eberlin, renowned for his work in excising neuromas, has raised numerous questions about the nature of these benign nerve tumors and their relationship to pain. His work has now led him to collaborate with researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital who are using cutting-edge technology to study the cellular components associated with pain.
Traditionally, pain research has heavily relied on animal models, as it is difficult to study the human nervous system in vivo. However, this research team has found a unique way to study human tissue by collecting donated nerve cells from surgeries and autopsies. With the aim of developing better pain medications, these scientists are using state-of-the-art technology to examine individual cells and identify the characteristics linked to pain.
Chronic pain is a complex phenomenon that can persist long after an injury has healed or arise without any apparent cause. It is a condition that often leaves sufferers without relief and limited treatment options. While opioids are effective, their side effects and the risk of addiction make them less-than-ideal long-term solutions. Dr. Clifford J. Woolf, co-leader of the pain project and director of the F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, states that a fresh approach is needed to tackle this ongoing problem.
The collaboration between Dr. Eberlin and the research team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital came about through a fortuitous series of events. Dr. Woolf, a leading pain researcher, met Dr. Eberlin, who specializes in neuroma removal, in 2019. At this time, a new technology had just been developed to study the cells in neuromas, and federal grant funding became available. Dr. Eberlin’s patients were asked to donate their removed nerve tissue to the research project, resulting in approximately 150 samples.
To further understand the structures and components of neuromas, the collected nerve samples are meticulously examined in the laboratory. Using single-cell genomic sequencing, scientists are able to analyze the individual cells and identify abnormal structures and gene expressions associated with pain. This detailed analysis will provide valuable insight into the mechanisms behind chronic pain and help identify potential targets for future medications.
In addition to studying neuromas, the research team is also investigating the nerves involved in migraines. This shift in focus came about by chance, as the researchers had a conversation during a Sunday brunch. Dr. William R. Renthal, the principal investigator of the pain research project at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, expressed his excitement and confidence in the potential outcomes of the study, stating, “We will be able to identify which of those features are associated with pain.”
The groundbreaking collaboration between Dr. Eberlin and the research team offers new hope to the millions suffering from chronic pain. By focusing on human tissue and employing innovative technology, these scientists aim to unlock the secrets of pain and develop more effective and targeted treatments.