info@orofacialpain.org.uk

Research

Areas of research interest

Acute post surgical pain model (basis of clinical analgesic trials)
  • Influence of genetics, psychometrics on pain (38 genes identified up regulated or down regulated in association with trigeminal pain)
  • Pain pathways fMRI Biomarker of ongoing pain in man (proof of concept studies to follow with Perfalgen and Diclofenac)
  • Evaluation of the placebo effect
  • Immunohistochemical analysis peripheral pain receptors
 Dental pulpal pain (unravelling the modality of dental pain and Dental Sensitivity)
  • Influence of genetics, psychometrics
  • Pain pathways fMRI
  • Immunohistochemical analysis peripheral receptors /effects of blocking agents
  • Evaluation of neurophysical and biological pathways
  • Cell culture of neural stem cells form dental pulp
  • Characterisation of neural cell physiology derived form human pulp
  • Evaluate novel methods of obliteration/obstruction of dentinal tubules
 Chronic orofacial pain
  • Conditions include headaches [migraine, tension, cluster, trigeminal autonomic syndromes, giant cell arteritis] neuralgias [trigeminal neuralgia –typical and atypical, post surgical neuropathy, PHN] and neuropathic pain [persistent idiopathic intra oral and extra oral pain, trigeminal neuropathy, Temporomandibular pain, burning mouth syndrome].
  • Phenotyping of patients attending OFP /neurology clinics
  • (pain history / QST / LA blocks / Specific adjuvants)
  • Influence of genetics, psychometrics –pain questionnaires
  • Pain pathways fMRI
  • immunohistochemical analysis peripheral receptors /effects of blocking agents
  • evaluation of neurophysical and biological pathways
  • Evaluation of psychological needs of OFP patients and identify best practise in management
Relationship of Parkinson’s and orofacial pain
  • Epidemiology
Trigeminal nerve injuries
  • Prevention and management optimization
  • Psychological effects of iatrogenesis

Our research Staff

  • Dental Institute Clinical Orofacial Multi disciplinary pain clinics
  • Professor Tara Renton Oral Surgery KCL / Hon Cons KCHFT / GSTFT
  • Dr Giorgio Lambru Neurology Consultant GSTT
  • Dr Tom Smith Pain management Input STH
  • Mr Sinan Barazi Neurosurgeon KCH
  • Dr Tim Poate Consultant Oral Medicine KCHFT
  • Dr Michael Escudier Consultant Oral Medicine GSTT
  • Dr Eva Okon Rocha Liaison Psychiatrist
  • Dr Sarah Barker Clinical psychologist
  • Dr Kate Le Merechal Clinical psychologist
  • Dr Leigh Ann Morgan GDP and Clinical teacher
  • Dr Jared Smith  Health Psychology

Collaborations

  • Professor Praveen Anand Dept Peripheral neuropathy Imperial College
  • Prof Manjit Matharu Neurologist Queens Square
  • Professor Joanna Zakzrewska Oral Medicine Consultant UCL
  • Dr Andrew Philippides Brighton University
  • Professor Tony Pogrel Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery UCSF
  • Prof Margie Byers Neurophysiology University Washington Seattle
  • Prof Pat Schofield Greenwich University

Laboratories

  • Prof Anand Imperial College Hammersmith
  • Dr Andy Grant Wolfson Institute KCL Guys
  • Prof Lucy Di Silvio Biomaterials KCL Guys

Ethics Applications / HTA information

  • All projects R&D approved at both GSTFT and KCHFT
  • Italix = studies not started
1. Evaluation of receptor expression and activity in relation to acute dental pulpal pain NRES: 06/MRE00/5
  • Tissue samples collected at GSt and KCH
  • The blood samples are stored and registered in storage system at the SGDP labs in the basement. They are in an alarmed -80 freezer in accordance with the HTA Sent to
  • Biomaterials labs floor 17 GST
  • Imperial college Dept Peripheral neuropathy
2. Evaluation of receptor expression and activity in relation to chronic orofacial pain conditions NRES:06/MRE00/6

Burning mouth syndrome (before and after NT)

  • Erythema migrans
  • Lingual nerve injury
  • Pemphigus and pemphigoid
  • Tissue samples collected at GSTand KCH
  • The blood samples are stored and registered in storage system at the SGDP labs in the basement. They are in an alarmed -80 freezer in accordance with the HTA Sent to
  • Biomaterials labs floor 17 GST
  • Imperial college Dept Peripheral neuropathy
3. Evaluation of receptor expression and activity in relation to post traumatic trigeminal nerve branches NRES:   06/MRE00/4

Tissue samples collected at GSTand KCH

  • The blood samples are stored and registered in storage system at the SGDP labs in the basement. They are in an alarmed -80 freezer in accordance with the HTA Sent to
  • Biomaterials labs floor 17 GST
  • Imperial college Dept Peripheral neuropathy
4. Genetic and psychometric role in post surgical acute pain using ASL / regional cerebral blood (rCBF) flow NRES: 07/H0808/115
  • Blood samples collected IoP KCL The blood samples are stored and registered in storage system at the SGDP labs in the basement. They are in an alarmed -80 freezer in accordance with the HTA.
  • Tissue samples collected at GST and KCH
  • Stored Rayne institute (need another site)
  • Sent to Biomaterials labs floor 17 GST

Imperial college Dept Peripheral neuropathy

5. Stem cell culture from dental pulps of extracted teeth. Evaluation of the odontoblast ole in dental pain Corec ref AB /137374/1 KCH REC 08/0808/119
  • Tissue samples collected at GST and KCH
  • The blood samples are stored and registered in storage system at the SGDP labs in the basement. They are in an alarmed -80 freezer in accordance with the HTA Sent to
  • Biomaterials labs floor 17 GST
  • Imperial college Dept Peripheral neuropathy
  • Wolfson Institute GST KCL
6. Genetic and psychometric role in chronic orofacial pain using ASL / regional cerebral blood (rCBF) flow. COREC AB/65914/1 KCH REC 08/H0808/105
  • Tissue samples collected at GST and KCH
  • The blood samples are stored and registered in storage system at the SGDP labs in the basement. They are in an alarmed -80 freezer in accordance with the HTA Sent to
  • Craniofacial Lab Floor 27 GST
7. Assessing the potential role of dental pulpal stem cells and progenitor cells in pain and related gene expression. COREC AB/137337/1 KCH REC 08/0808/104
  • Tissue samples collected at GST and KCH
  • The blood samples are stored and registered in storage system at the SGDP labs in the basement. They are in an alarmed -80 freezer in accordance with the HTA Sent to
  • Biomaterials labs floor 17 GST
  • Imperial college Dept Peripheral neuropathy
  • Wolfson Institute GST KCL
Evaluation of the effectivity of medical screening of dental casualty patients in identifying those at risk form the big three (IHD, DM and CVA) COREC AB 133547/1 KCH REC 08/H)0808/106
  • Tissue samples collected at GST and KCH
  • Stored Rayne institute (need another site)

Get involved Menu