Shaping Pain Research Together — With and For Patients
On average, it takes 17 years for clinical trial results to reach routine practice. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a warning. This number comes from health policy research reviewed and confirmed across multiple studies. One of the most cited estimates is from Dr. Eugene Balas and colleagues, who found it takes about 17 years for just 14% of clinical research to benefit patients at the point of care (Balas & Boren, 2000). A later review confirmed that figure, calling it “one of the most quoted but least challenged statistics in healthcare research” (Morris et al., 2011).
Why This Matters
- Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 Americans, with 25 million living with pain that disrupts daily life.
- For decades, pain research was underfunded. The NIH HEAL Initiative® (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) is changing that by funding new treatments, better care strategies, and real-world solutions.
- Since 2018, HEAL has supported 2200+ projects, 40+ FDA approvals, and 300+ ongoing clinical trials across the U.S.
What’s New in 2025?
A national working group — including scientists, doctors, and people with lived experience (PWLE) — identified 10 top research priorities to guide HEAL’s next five years.
The 10 Priorities (in Plain Language)
- Grow the Workforce – Train more pain researchers, including patients as partners, and support new scientists at every career stage.
- New Therapies – Develop safer, non-addictive treatments (like antibodies, mRNA, and devices).
- Human-Centered Research – Study human biology directly to design better lab models and reduce trial failures.
- Prevent Pain – Stop chronic pain before it starts, especially during life changes like puberty, menopause, or aging.
- Biomarkers – Find tests (like blood or imaging markers) that predict whether a treatment will work.
- Personalized Care – Test whether “pain signatures” (biological, psychological, social profiles) help tailor treatments.
- Multimodal Care – Study the best order and mix of treatments (drug, non-drug, lifestyle) for the best outcomes.
- Real-World Solutions – Run pragmatic studies in real clinics and communities, and cut back on ineffective care.
- Pain + Substance Use – Develop better strategies for people who face both pain and risk of substance use disorder.
- Non-Drug Approaches – Expand access to therapies like exercise, acupuncture, mindfulness, and physical therapy.
Core Principles
- Patients’ voices at the center – PWLE must be partners at every stage of research.
- Equity in care – Address disparities based on race, gender, income, and geography.
- Team science – Bring together diverse experts (basic science, clinical care, community leaders, and PWLE).
- Use what we already know – Share and re-analyze existing HEAL data to speed progress.
What This Means for You
- Research is moving toward personalized, safer, and more accessible pain care.
- Your experience matters — PWLE are being included in setting priorities, designing studies, and sharing results.
- The goal is not just to reduce pain, but to improve function, quality of life, and equity in treatment.
Source Document: Final Report of the HEAL Pain Strategic Research Priorities Working Group, May 14, 2025