ONgoing REsearch studies

 Preclinical Research

• Analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of novel ligands and associated neurochemical/molecular mechanisms of action: Cannabinoids, opioids, monoamines, imidazolines, Ca ²⁺ channels, antidepressants, GABA, glutamate. (Dr David Finn, PI).
• Identifying brain regions involved in analgesia (Dr David Finn, PI)
• Exploring the relationship between stress, fear and pain: the role of the endogenous cannabinoid and opioid receptor systems. (Dr David Finn, PI)
• Investigate altered functionality of G-protein coupled receptors during chronic pain. (Dr David Finn, PI)
• Assessment of the effects of neuropathic pain and its treatment on cognitive function. (Dr David Finn, PI)
• Investigating pain-anxiety co-morbidity. (Dr David Finn, PI)
• Neuroimmunology of pain: Investigating the modulation of brain and peripheral cytokines by the endogenous cannabinoid system. (Dr David Finn, PI)
• Novel drug delivery systems for analgesics including cannabinoids. (Dr David Finn, PI)

• The role of central cytokines in altered nociceptive processing associated with affective responding – PhD project (Dr Michelle Roche, PI)

• Endocannabinoid modulation of central inflammatory responses; implications for the treatment of pain and depression – MSc Research project (Dr Michelle Roche,PI)

• Investigating the role of the endocannabinoid system in endogenous analgesia: neurochemical and molecular mechanisms ( Dr Michelle Roche, Co-PI)

Psychological Aspects of Pain

• June 2008, Health Research Board Summer Scholarship, granted to student Gerard Healy under supervision of Dr. Brian McGuire (PI), Dr. David Finn, Dept. of Pharmacology and Dr. David O’Gorman, Pain Medicine “ Do psychological variables predict the outcome of medical pain management?” 

•  June 2008, Health Research Board Summer Scholarship, granted to student Edel Smith  under supervision of Dr. Brenda Gannon, Economics (PI), Dr. Brian McGuire, Dr. David Finn, Pharmacology and Dr. David O’Gorman, Pain Medicine “ An analysis of the economic costs of chronic pain among Pain Clinic attendees”   

• June 2008, Health Research Board Project Grant, granted to Dr. B. McGuire (PI), Prof. A. Murphy, Prof. E. O’Shea. “ Preventing long-term pain-related disability: An evaluation of the Pain Disability Prevention Program in the Irish health service”. 

•  Sept 2008, Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences - Research Development Initiative, granted to Dr. Padraig MacNeela (PI); Dr. Brian McGuire; Dr. David O’Gorman.  “ Motivation and pain-related beliefs among people experiencing chronic low back pain”.

• April 2010, Queensland Government Health Practitioner Clinical Education and Training Research Scheme awarded to Deen, M., Morrell, S., Morton, C., McGuire, B.E., Moran, M. for a study: “ Core knowledge and skill requirements of a competent interdisciplinary workforce in the area of persistent pain: A Delphi study”.  

• June, 2010, Health Research Board Summer Scholarship, student Noreen Lenihan, Dr. Michael Hogan, Dr. Jane Walsh, Dr. Brian McGuire, “ The moderating effect of cognitive coping style on the effectiveness of a distraction or sensation-focused home-based intervention in chronic pain patients.” 

Integration of Preclinical and Clinical Research

• A comaprison of the transversus abdominis plane block versus epidural for the treatment of pain post radical retro-pubic prostatectomy.
• A comaprison of the transversus abdominis plane block versus epidural for the treatment of pain post radical retro-pubic prostatectomy.
• Investigation of the role of the sympathetic nervous system in acute pain.

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