Interface Between Sleep and Pain: Symptomatology, Pathobiology and Treatment Response (Virtual)

Mon, 12/16/2024 - 10:00am - 5:00pm
Tue, 12/17/2024 - 10:00am - 5:00pm

Overview

The Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative® is convening a virtual scientific workshop focused on the intersection between sleep/circadian rhythms and chronic pain conditions. The overall goal of the workshop is to identify opportunities to integrate advances in sleep and circadian science with priorities in pain biology, prevention, and therapeutics. The workshop will facilitate discussion on the state of science in sleep and pain research and provide important information for NIH program and strategic planning. Interested researchers are encouraged to view the meeting online via NIH Videocast. Registration is not required.

Sleep deficiency (e.g., short sleep duration, irregular timing, poor sleep quality) and sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorder) are frequently co-morbid in individuals with acute and chronic pain conditions (e.g., osteoarthritis, neuropathy, cancer, sickle cell disease, temporomandibular disorders, fibromyalgia). Evidence points to a bi-directional relationship where sleep deficiency exacerbates pain sensitivity, and pain triggers sleep disruption. Sleep and circadian disturbances are modifiable and there is an unmet need to identify potential therapeutic targets to mitigate pain pathobiology and improve pain management and treatment response. This initiative will support clinical intervention research aimed to determine whether improving co-morbid sleep disturbances is a potential strategy to enhance pain management and outcomes in individuals where sleep perturbations and pain are co-morbid.

The workshop is being coordinated by the following components of NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

  • View Draft Agenda (coming soon)
  • Watch the NIH Videocast Livestream (coming soon)

Topics Covered

  • Delineate neural and peripheral mechanisms/therapeutic targets linking sleep disturbance and chronic pain pathophysiology; 
  • Discuss the significance of circadian rhythms in pain symptomatology and hyperalgesia; 
  • Identify strategies to improve sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances in the context of chronic pain conditions; 
  • Examine whether sleep and circadian interventions should be integrated into pain management strategies.

How To Access the Event

The workshop will be livestreamed on NIH Videocast. Online attendees will be able to submit questions through NIH Videocast.

For More Information, Contact:

Aaron D. Laposky, Ph.D., at [email protected] or 301-827-7837 (NHLBI)
Inna Belfer, MD, Ph.D., at [email protected] or 301-435-1573 (NCCIH)
Yejun (Janet) He, at [email protected] or 301-496-9964 (NINDS)