Grant: Operating Grant

Persistent back pain is the most common form of chronic illness in Canadians age 60 and under, affecting 15 percent of the population. Because pain impairs one's ability to carry out a productive life, it has serious economic consequences in addition to being a major health problem. Current treatment approaches to chronic back pain are limited by our narrow understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms. One of the major causes of chronic back pain is the breakdown of intervertebral discs in the spine, a condition called degenerative disc disease (DDD). In this condition, the degeneration of discs can be associated with severe pain and physical impairment, yet the relationship between disc degeneration, pain and physical impairment are not well understood. As a consequence, current treatments are not always effective and individuals may suffer for years without relief. In order to improve therapeutic outcome and quality of life for sufferers of chronic pain, an improved understanding of the underlying biological causes is necessary. We propose to use an animal model of chronic back pain due to disc degeneration to improve our understanding of chronic back pain and to test novel therapies. These studies will ultimately help improve therapeutic outcome and quality of life for sufferers of chronic pain.