EFIC Pain Research Strategy
Introduction
Between 2021 and 2024, the European Pain Federation EFIC developed a ‘pain research strategy’ in order to provide focus for future funding topics, reduce ‘research waste’, improve the effectiveness of pain research and therapy and promote the uptake of research evidence.
The pain research strategy should provide leadership for the European pain research community and establish a focal point for major funders of pain research such as the European Commission.
The full text can be found here: A pain research strategy for Europe: A European survey and position paper of the European Pain Federation EFIC
A presentation on the methodology and findings of the research strategy project can be found here.
Building on the work undertaken via the pain research strategy, EFIC applied for funding via the 2022 ERA NET NEURON European Networking Groups Call on Chronic Pain. The funded project, ‘Developing a Pain Research Strategy for Europe: an international network of world-leading experts and patient representatives (PRiSE)’ had the following aims:
- Reach consensus on the most important research priorities across basic, pre-clinical, translational, and clinical chronic pain research, and how they should be addressed
- Explore enablers and barriers to successful implementation of the Strategy
- Develop a web platform to amalgamate developments in, and track the success of our implementation efforts
- Create a roll-out framework to ensure its successful implementation.
The full dissemination and communications strategy can be found here.
Information pack
EFIC will be developing information packs for key target audiences of the pain research strategy. We will update this section of the webpage periodically.
Translations
EFIC will be translating the pain research strategy and information pack documents to enable dissemination across the various countries EFIC represents.
Endorsement of proposals aligned with the Pain Research Strategy
EFIC is frequently contacted by researchers and research institutions to support applications for research funding e.g. via European Commission funding schemes. EFIC also plays a role in such applications as an active partner. You can find more information about this here.
In due course, EFIC will be updating its processes for those seeking endorsement of or participation in research funding proposals. We will be aligning these processes with the pain research strategy, allowing applicants to confirm if their proposals are designed to implement the priorities of the strategy.
KPIs
| KPI | Number |
| Number of meetings with the European Commission or other government entities/funders where the paper is a subject of discussion | |
| Number of meetings with politicians responsible for research policy where the paper is a subject of discussion | |
| Number of meetings with partner societies where the paper is a subject of discussion | |
| Number of public webinars held in association with partner societies where the paper is a subject of discussion | |
| Number of scientific sessions where the paper is a subject of discussion | |
| Citations of original paper | |
| Views of original paper | |
| Citations of the original paper within policy or similar (e.g. policy study, funding strategy etc) documents from funders or government entities | |
| Citations of the original paper within funding applications by researchers | |
| Amount of funding awarded by EFIC aligned with the Strategy | |
| Number of submissions to the EJP aligned with the Strategy | |
| Number of congress abstract submissions aligned with the Strategy | |
| Number of references to the Strategy within educational curricula | |
| Number of endorsements of the Strategy by partner organisations |
