Pain is central to many medical conditions and ailments, and has tremendous impact on quality of life, health care costs and economic productivity. However, the cause of pain is often uncertain, many existing treatments are only modestly effective, and new and more effective therapies are urgently needed.

One are of concern is the development of persistent pain after surgery, which is particularly common after cardiac, breast cancer, and orthopedic surgery. The Institute for Pain Research & Care is a world-class institute with a focus on exploring causes of persistent post-surgical pain, developing new strategies for its prevention, and innovative care for patients.