CIPHeR is a multidisciplinary alliance of global leaders in pain research, uniting groups of pain researchers across UQ to work collaboratively toward the single end of cracking the code on pain. The Centre is nation-leading in its diversity and size, and the impact of its research.
With strong partnerships in health care and industry and high profile national and global research collaborations, CIPHeR is poised to make a significant and sustained impact on our understanding of pain and the lives of those whom it affects.
Vision
CIPHeR’s vision is to 'unlock the pain code’ and improve outcomes for people with pain worldwide.
Mission
Our vision is to solve the most important questions in pain and related fields through high-quality, multidisciplinary research informed by stakeholders. This research aims to advance the understanding of pain, develop and test new strategies for treating and preventing pain and injury, and ultimately improve outcomes for people with pain.
We ensure that both basic and clinical research lead to real improvements in the lives of people with pain while also building the skills and knowledge of our researchers and those who use our research.
We bring together researchers from various fields of pain research, as well as related areas within the university and public sector, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and creating opportunities for impactful research that can be applied to real-world problems.
CIPHeR conducts research across the spectrum from fundamental discoveries in basic research to clinical trials and implementation.
The Centre’s work is organised into four research themes that each address a key element of pain within an integrated framework:
Mechanisms and trajectories
High impact discovery research addressing critical gaps in understanding of nociception, pain, and related phenomena.
Mechanisms and trajectories project page
Innovation in treatment and prevention
Discovery and refinement of strategies to predict, prevent, and treat pain and injury.
Innovation in treatment and prevention project page
Innovative clinical trials
High priority clinical trials to test treatments, models of care, and preventative strategies to reduce the burden of pain.
Innovative clinical trials project page
Knowledge translation, education and implementation
Translational programs to ensure the Centre’s work results in better outcomes for patients.
Knowledge translation, education and implementation project page
CIPHeR brings together 53 academics from The University of Queensland (UQ) and their teams from across 6 Faculties (Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology, and Faculty of Science) and 3 Institutes (Institute of Molecular Bioscience, Queensland Brain Institute, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology) with a total group size of more than 200 pain researchers.
UQ has substantial strength in pain research, including key individuals with world-leading research profiles.
Director
Mechanisms and trajectories theme
Leaders
Team
- Professor Brian Key
- Professor Paul Mills
- Professor Peter Cabot
- Associate Professor Kylie Tucker
- Associate Professor Lachlan Rash
- Dr Sam Robinson
- Dr Nathalia Costa
- Dr Taylor Dick
- Dr Manuela Besomi
- Dr Viana Vuvan
- Dr Scott Farrell
- Dr Yanfei Xie
- Dr Phill Bokiniec
Innovation in treatment and prevention theme
Leaders
Team
- Professor Trevor Russell
- Associate Professor Richard Clarke
- Associate Professor Wendy Goodwill
- Dr Rachel Elphinston
- Dr Lucy Thomas
- Dr Fernanda Cardoso
- Dr Nigel Lee
- Dr Felicity Han
- Dr Manuela Besomi
Innovative clinical trials theme
Leaders
Team
- Professor Michele Sterling
- Professor Phillip Good
- Associate Professor Natalie Collins
- Dr Julia Treleaven
Knowledge translation, education and implementation theme
Leaders
Team
CIPHeR has a strong engagement with external partners across health services, industry, clinicians and consumers.
Consumer organisations
- Musculoskeletal Australia
- Chronic Pain Australia
Scientific Societies
- International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
- Australian Pain Society
Clinical Trial Networks
- Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA)
- Australian Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Group (ANZMUSC)
Industry partnerships
Biomedical
- Mainstay Inc
- Boehringer Ingelheim
- Ferring
- Johnson & Johnson
- Zealand Pharma
- Vionic Limited Liability Company
Insurers
Allianz, Suncorp, Transport Accident Ccommission
Health systems
- Queensland Health
- CLEM Jones Centre
- Royal North Shore Hospital
Collaborating institutions (major collaborations only listed below)
Australia
- Australian National University
- University of Melbourne
- Monash University
- University of Sydney
- South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
- University of Adelaide
- Queensland Inistute of Medical Research
- Australian eHealth Research Centre, CSIRO
- Central Queensland University
- University of New South Wales
- La Trobe University
- Macquarie University
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research (University Tasmania)
- University of Wollongong
- Griffith University
International
- Oxford University (UK)
- Cambridge University (UK)
- University of Southern Denmark (Denmark)
- Temple University (USA)
- University of California, San Francisco (USA)
- University of North Carolina (USA)
- Erasmus Medical Centre (The Netherlands)
- Aalborg University (Denmark)
- Gent University (Belgium)
- University College Dublin (Ireland)
- University North Carolina (USA)
- Yugen Medtech (China)
- Hainan Beautech (China)
- University of Texas at Dallas (USA)
- Aarhus University (Denmark)
- Exeter University (UK)
- University of Minnesota (USA)
- University of Washington (USA)
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
Australian Research Council (ARC)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
U.S. Department of Defence (DoD)
Additional major funding for existing centres
- Centre for Integrated Preclinical Drug Development CIPDD
- RECOVER Injury Research Centre
External funding
- The Lott (philanthropic)
- AusHealth (industry)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (USA)
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society (USA)
- Investigator initiated grant
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital -Study, Education and Research Trust Account (SERTA)
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) /Motor Accident Insurance Commission
- Allianz
- Motor Accident Insurance Commission /State Insurance Regulatory Authority
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation
- Australian Physiotherapy Association
News
'Game-changer' sleep study could help millions of Australians suffering from chronic pain - 4 October 2024Relationship between sleep and pain is not what we think - 2 October 2024UQ researcher awarded top Queensland science prize - 16 August 2024UQ researchers elected as new Fellows to the Australian Academy of Science - 23 May 2024UQ health research given $41 million boost - 3 May 2024NHMRC awards $43 million in four new grants - 18 December 2023UQ researchers address health challenges with NHMRC grants - 23 November 2023UQ Alumni Award winners pave the path to a better world - 27 October 2023PM awards innovation prize to UQ venom researcher - 17 October 2023Caterpillar venom study reveals toxins borrowed from bacteria - 11 July 2023New venom discovery from deadly cone snails - 29 June 2023Research reveals ants inflict pain with neurotoxins - 6 June 2023Stinging tree injects promise of pain relief - 4 May 2023UQ researchers selected to attend 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting - 28 March 2023MRFF provides $31 million boost to UQ research - 21 March 2023UQ academics recognised by the Australian Academy of Humanities - 25 November 2022Investigating health solutions - 13 October 2022UQ researchers secure funding for vital health and medical research - 21 September 2022UQ research investigates how to stop painful chemo for kids - 12 August 2022UQ accelerates research response to health and medical challenges - 13 July 2022Differences in brain structure and genetics linked to chronic pain - 16 December 2021
Events
IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain
IASP’s World Congress on Pain is the largest gathering of pain professionals in the world, bringing together more than 5,000 scientists, clinicians, and healthcare providers from around the world and across pain disciplines.
Contact us
Professor Paul Hodges
Centre Director
Hayley Ware
Program Manager
+61 7 336 67417