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Pain Research

The UC San Diego Center for Pain Medicine is an active and fruitful environment for both basic and clinical research with a demonstrated track record of pushing the limits of our knowledge of chronic pain conditions and their treatment. Areas of active and past investigation include:

  • Complex regional pain syndrome
  • Medical marijuana
  • Cancer-related pain
  • Post-laminectomy syndrome
  • Spinal cord stimulation
  • Vagal nerve stimulation
  • Intrathecal drug delivery

Current Research Studies

We currently have the following IRB-approved clinical research studies:

  1. Bisphosphonates for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome type I
    • Enrolling patients recently diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, RSD)
  2. Vagal nerve stimulation for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
    • Enrolling patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
  3. Biomarkers of pain in patients with multiple sclerosis
    • Enrolling patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have severe pain, patients with multiple sclerosis who do not have pain, and healthy volunteers

High Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation Effects on Brain and Pain

Dr. Imanuel Lerman

Imanuel Lerman, MD

Contact to Participate:
Albert Chiu
achiu@vapop.ucsd.edu
858-552-8585, Ext. 7438


Evaluation of High Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) on Intra-epidermal Nerve Fibers and Corneal Confocal Microscopy in Diabetic Peripheral Neurpathy (DPN)

Dr. Jeffrey Chen

Jeffrey Chen, MD

Contact to Participate:
Katie Lam
kklam@ucsd.edu
858-822-0787


A Prospective, Open Label, Long term, Multi center, Registry to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of the Bioness StimRouter Neuromodulation System in Subjects with Chronic Pain of Peripheral nerve Origin

Dr. Krishnan Chakravarthy

Krishnan Chakravarthy, MD

Contact to Participate:
Katie Lam: kklam@ucsd.edu
Alyssa Chu: c1zhu@ucsd.edu


Dorsal Column Stimulation and Increased Functional Outcome Feasibility Study

Dr. Krishnan Chakravarthy

Krishnan Chakravarthy, MD

Contact to Participate:
Katie Lam: kklam@ucsd.edu
Ryan Fraiser: rfraiser@ucsd.edu


Pain Assessment for Interventional Neuromodulation (P.A.I.N.) — Machine Learning Enabled Automated Assessment of Pain Study

Dr. Krishnan Chakravarthy

Krishnan Chakravarthy, MD

Contact to Participate:
Katie Lam: kklam@ucsd.edu


CRD - 960 Prolong Study

Dr. Krishnan Chakravarthy

Krishnan Chakravarthy, MD

Contact to Participate:
Katie Lam: kklam@ucsd.edu


Discovery 6603 A Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Sham Controlled, Comparative Study of SI 660 in Subjects with Lumar Disc Herniation

Dr. Farshad Ahadian

Farshad Ahadian, MD

Contact to Participate:
Donna: dbrusch@ucsd.edu, 858-822-2649
Yasmeen: 858-534-4449


C.L.E.A.R- Corticosteriod Lumbar Epidural Analgesia for Rediculopathy

Dr. Farshad Ahadian

Farshad Ahadian, MD

Contact to Participate:
Donna: dbrusch@ucsd.edu, 858-822-2649
Yasmeen: 858-534-4449


The Effects oF Mindfulness-based Training on Chronic Low Back Pain

Fadel Zeidan, PhD

Fadel Zeidan, PhD

Contact to Participate:
Zeidan Laboratory: zeidanlab@ucsd.edu
858-245-2029, Ext.62028

Contact Us

If you are interested in participating in one of these clinical trials, contact one of our study coordinators:

Katie Lam: (858) 822-0787
Lucinda Martin: (858) 822-0460