Chronic Pain Research Institute, Simon Fraser University

Chronic pain must be controlled and managed by attending to the sufferer’s biological, psychological and social needs. The need for this complexity of care was recognized when chronic pain was first described following World War II in a method now termed the biopsychosocial approach. Thus, expertise from a number of disciplines is needed to address these aspects. To this end, the Chronic Pain Research Institute aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, sufferers (“knowledge experts”) and caregivers in an dynamic environment that enables the exploration of multiple avenues of research, management and control of chronic pain. These avenues include technology and media development to address the psychological, social and biological aspects of chronic pain, as well as research methods and practices from evidence-based medicine, as well as methods from the humanistic and artistic domains to address the cultural aspects. Training and analyses of clinical practice are promising ways that may help create capacity for our health care system that is currently overwhelmed by the sheer demand. With our non-profit partners, advocacy will help educate the public and reduce the stigma often experienced by those who live with chronic pain.