EFIC-Grunenthal Grant 2007: The new generation of pain researchers

Aachen, Germany (ots) -

- Cross reference: Picture is available at
http://www.presseportal.de/galerie.htx?type=obs -

Today the European Federation of Chapters of the International
Association for the Study of Pain (EFIC) and the pharmaceutical
company Grunenthal GmbH award five young European scientists with
grants to support innovative, exploratory research projects on
clinical and human experimental pain research. Overall 29 young
researchers from eight countries across Europe applied for funds
totaling EUR 100,000. The EFIC Research Committee, comprising
internationally known pain specialists, has chosen the winners.
Unlike typical research grants which are intended to support well
established research groups with many years of experience behind
them, the EFIC-Grunenthal Grants are intended for young investigators
just beginning their research career. Focus is on novel ideas that
have the potential for major advances in the understanding of pain
mechanisms and the treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain,
even if there is a risk of failure.

The winners of this year's EFIC-Grunenthal Grants, in the amount
of EUR 20,000 per project, are:

Thomas Graven-Nielsen Ph.D., Aalborg University (DK): Referred
pain, is a classical characteristic in musculoskeletal pain. His
study will address factors potentially explaining why some subjects
are predisposed to develop referred pain in contrast to others who
are not.

Dieuwke Veldhuijzen Ph.D., University of Utrecht (NL). With
functional magnetic resonance imaging she will investigate the role
of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in fibromyalgia - a syndrome
characterized by chronic widespread pain, tenderness to light touch,
and a variety of other symptoms.

Valéry Legrain Ph.D., Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels
(B). The aim of this project is to study the organization of the
attentional processes that modulate pain in the human brain, by
combining behavioral and neurophysiological methods. The results may
provide new information allowing the development and adaptation of
psychotherapeutic techniques for patients to cope better with pain.

Christian Netzer M.D., Cologne University (DE): His work is in the
field of migraine research. He asks whether the likelihood of
suffering from migraine headaches may be related to genetically
determined variability in a specific neuropeptide signalling pathway
of the central nervous system.

Markus Ploner M.D., Technical University Munich (DE): He will
explore physiological correlates of the involuntary attentional
demands of pain, which may degrade a person´s ability to perceive and
to make rational decisions during pain. Increases in the attentional
demands of pain may also be involved in the development of chronic
pain syndromes.

"Young investigators who won EFIC-Grunenthal Grants in 2007 will
be carrying out research on a variety of intriguing questions",
comments Prof. Marshall Devor, Ph.D., Chairman of the EFIC Research
Committee and Professor at the Institute of Life Sciences and Centre
for Research on Pain at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "For
example, fibromyalgia seriously degrades the quality of life of many
patients. Two of these projects are looking into functional and
psychological aspects that may underlie this and related chronic pain
syndromes."

"EFIC and Grunenthal are now in the fourth year of the fruitful
tradition of encouraging young European pain scientists in their
ambitious work to help understand chronic pain and to provide relief
to patients suffering from chronic pain. Both are highly committed to
bringing to public awareness the realization that pain is a disease
in its own right", comments Prof. Serdar Erdine, M.D., EFIC President
and Director, Department of Algology, Faculty of Medicine at Istanbul
University.

"Pain relief is more than just taking pain killers. Many patients
suffering from pain have problems with carrying out their daily
activities like taking care of their children, work and hobbies.
Research such as this will help us to understand the mechanism of
action behind pain symptoms, and hopefully to significantly improve
the quality of life of pain patients", said Wolfgang Becker, Member
of the Executive Board of Grunenthal GmbH". Moreover, improved
treatment approaches will lower the overall disease related costs in
the EU healthcare systems".

The application hotline for the next EFIC-Grunenthal Grant 2008 is
open. More information is available at www.e-g-g.info.

Picture is available via EPA (European Pressphoto Agency), further
printable photo material for download at:
http://www.presseportal.de/link/R_D

About EFIC

The European Federation of IASP Chapters (EFIC) is a
multidisciplinary professional organization in the field of Pain
Science and Medicine, made up of the 30 European chapters of IASP
(the International Association for the Study of Pain). Established in
1993 by Prof. Ulf Lindblom, EFIC's 30 constituent chapters represent
33 countries and close to 18,000 scientists, physicians, nurses,
physiotherapists, psychologists and other healthcare professionals
across Europe, who study pain and treat patients in pain.
www.efic.org

About Grunenthal

Grunenthal is an expert in pain therapy and gynaecology and a
pioneer in intelligent, user-friendly drug delivery technologies.
Founded in 1946, the company employs 1,900 people in Germany and
4,800 worldwide. In 2006, Grunenthal achieved revenues of 813 million
Euro. www.grunenthal.com

Originaltext: Grünenthal GmbH
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Contact:
Anke Krueger-Hellwig
Phone: +49 241 569-2858,
Fax: +49 241 569-52858,
anke.krueger-hellwig@grunenthal.com

Grunenthal GmbH,
52099 Aachen, Germany,
www.grunenthal.com