The European Pain Federation EFIC is excited to announce that Dr Mary O’Keeffe, EFIC Research Projects Advisor, has been awarded a highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant, securing approximately €1.75 million to lead her PainSupportLink project.
PainSupportLink sets a new standard in chronic musculoskeletal pain research by examining the intricate interplay between social disadvantage and pain sensitisation. Dr O’Keeffe’s project will explore how factors such as financial hardship, insecure employment, and social isolation can biologically prime stress, immune, and nervous systems. Building on these insights, the project will co-design personalised support packages that connect clinical care with community-based interventions.
Dr O’Keeffe’s achievement reflects the power of multi-disciplinary collaboration and EFIC’s ongoing commitment to shaping health equity across Europe. We congratulate Dr Mary O’Keeffe on this remarkable success and look forward to the meaningful impact PainSupportLink will bring to those most affected by chronic pain.
