Pain in patients with sickle cell disease is a well recognized health problem. However, little progress has been made in understanding and treating sickle cell pain. A major barrier is limited opportunities for the interaction and collaboration among researchers from sickle cell disease and pain fields. The purpose of the Symposium, Pain in Sickle Cell Disease: Basic and Clinical Science Advances and Future Directions, is to bring the awareness of the disease and sickle cell pain to pain researchers and physicians, and to illuminate the state-of-science in pain research. The Symposium is planned as a satellite meeting of the 2011 American Pain Society Annual Meeting, so it will bring together sickle cell and pain experts who may otherwise not have an opportunity to have face-to-face dialogue. The symposium will highlight new scientific approaches and new technologies in the scientific community's quest for a better understanding of neurobiological mechanisms and proper treatment of pain in sickle cell disease. The symposium aims to achieve the following specific objective: 1) present the state-of-the-science related to pain in people with sickle cell anemia;2) recognize the advantages and disadvantages of the different animal models of sickle cell pain;3) discuss the relevance of advances in pain mechanisms to research in sickle cell pain;4) recognize potential for sickle cell pain to serve as a translational model of nociceptive and neuropathic pain across the life-span;5) foster collaborations among sickle cell and pain researchers;and 6) identify potential collaborations for conducting multi-site translational studies.

Public Health Relevance

Limited progress has been made in characterizing and treating chronic pain in sickle cell disease. A major barrier is limited opportunities for the interaction and collaboration among researchers from sickle cell disease and pain fields. The Purpose of the Symposium, Pain in Sickle Cell Disease: Basic and Clinical Science Advances and Future Directions, is to bring the awareness of the disease and sickle cell pain to pain researchers and physicians, and to illuminate the state-of-science in pain research. A major goal of the symposium is to foster potential collaborations among researchers from various disciplines and research centers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Conference (R13)
Project #
1R13HL106871-01
Application #
8061918
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-W (O1))
Program Officer
Luksenburg, Harvey
Project Start
2011-04-01
Project End
2013-03-31
Budget Start
2011-04-01
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$7,500
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612