Interdisciplinary Center of Excellence for the Study of Pain and Sensory Function

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Chronic pain continues to be a critical health, social and economic issue throughout the world. Patient relief is undermined by modest efficacy and/or serious, self-limiting side effects of all current pain pharmaceuticals. Moreover, the opioid epidemic, that has only increased in severity as a consequence of COVID-19, lends urgency to the search for alternative treatments for moderate to severe pain. Through Phase 1 and 2 COBRE funding and leveraged institutional support, the University of New England (UNE) Center for the Study of Pain and Sensory Function was successful in renovating new laboratory space, establishing two research core facilities, and recruiting a critical mass of investigators studying pain and its treatment. Provided with mentorship and career development support, research project funding, and access to state-of-the-art research core facilities, COBRE investigators have made major scientific advances in the discovery of novel targets for the treatment of chronic pain and secured almost $14 million in extramural research funding. The research cores have already supported SBIR and STTR projects that have led to the submission of one compound to the FDA for approval of Phase 1 clinical trials. This increase in research activity seeded by COBRE funds was largely responsible for UNE’s recent promotion to R2 status (denoted as high research activity) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. COBRE Phase 3 will build on its previous successes to secure the Center’s long-term viability. Strong institutional support will continue to be provided in the form of dedicated core space, equipment maintenance, internal funding for a research core voucher program, release time for core Directors and guarantee of core staff salary beyond Phase 3. For Aim 1, the COBRE team will continue to increase research capacity through career development programming and direct financial support for pilot research projects. The Pilot Project Program will accept applications from faculty at UNE and regional partner institutions to support projects that utilize the core facilities and have the potential to lead to extramural funding. This approach will increase the research core user base and assist in Aim 2, transitioning the research cores into sustainable resources that provide expertise, training, and state- of-the-art instrumentation to the UNE and broader scientific communities for conducting cutting-edge biomedical research. The research cores will become sustainable through collaborations with regional COBREs and Maine INBRE partners, the combined efforts of the External Advisory and Steering Committees, strong institutional support, and an aggressive business strategic planning and marketing approach. COBRE Phases 1 and 2 profoundly transformed the research environment at UNE. At the time of Phase 1 submission, core research facilities were nonexistent. The increase in research capacity created through the COBRE program has led to the recruitment and funding of a critical mass of investigators, training of a skilled workforce, and development of sustainable core research facilities that can support high-quality research for UNE faculty and students, as well as external academic and industry partners. With continued institutional investment and additional support provided through Phase 3 funding, we will build on this early success and establish our center as a leader in pain research for many years to come.