Proof-of-concept translation study for a biosensor-based blood test to enhance chronic pain diagnosis and treatment

Chronic pain is a significant global health issue, affecting one in five people and costing billions annually. Diagnosing the specific type of chronic pain relies heavily on patient self-reporting, which can be subjective and challenging. This often leads to delayed or inaccurate diagnoses, ineffective treatments, and reliance on medications with significant side-effects. There are no objective biological identifiers for pain and investigations for underlying biological causes are often unhelpful and non-specific.
A team of researchers at Flinders University and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) is pioneering a groundbreaking study to develop a blood-test device that could revolutionise how chronic pain is diagnosed and treated. This project aims to translate successful animal research into a practical clinical solution targeted at millions of patients suffering from chronic pain worldwide. The research is a collaborative effort between the SALHN Pain Management Unit headed by Dr. Kang and the Flinders University Pain and
Sensory Cell Biology Laboratory, headed by Dr. Matusica.
Dr Matusica’s laboratory has a strong track record in pain research, particularly in developing innovative technologies that use biological samples to improve diagnosis. His team has successfully developed a blood-based test that can identify different clinically relevant chronic pain types in rodent models, including
neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis pain, chronic inflammatory pain, persistent post-operative pain and cancer treatment-induced nerve pain. This information is then analysed by computer programs to find patterns that match a specific chronic pain condition. For our new project, we will test this biosensor technology developed at Flinders University in a rigorous trial involving 30 patients at the SALHN Pain Management Unit. Researchers will examine the blood test results
alongside detailed patient clinical information to refine the blood test, and determine whether its accuracy and precision are suitable for clinical use.
The SALHN Pain Management Unit provides specialised care to patients experiencing complex and persistent pain conditions and is committed to innovation and improving patient outcomes through research and evidence-based practice. If successful, this research will transform chronic pain management by providing the Pain Unit clinicians with an objective measure of their patients' pain, complementing subjective patient reports. By analysing a patient's blood, we aim to identify biomarkers that can distinguish between
different types of pain, such as nerve pain and inflammatory pain. This could support precise diagnoses and allow for more targeted and personalised treatment plans (including more effective pain-relieving treatment),
improving patient outcomes and their quality of life (and at a faster rate).