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The University of Oxford has begun research initiative designed to change how chronic pain is managed. The programme, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), will focus on personalised, brain-targeted therapies that adapt to each patient’s condition in real time.
The project, known as EPIONE (Effective Pain Interventions with Neural Engineering), brings together experts in neuroscience, engineering, and clinical medicine. Their goal is to move beyond conventional painkillers and develop advanced systems that address the underlying neural mechanisms of pain directly.
Chronic pain affects many and remains one of the leading causes of long-term disability. Despite its prevalence, treatment progress has been slow, with many patients relying on drugs that provide limited relief or come with significant side effects. EPIONE aims to offer a new path—using technology to understand and regulate the brain’s pain networks more precisely.
At the heart of the programme is the idea that pain is not just a symptom but a complex brain process. The research will explore how sensing technologies and neuromodulation techniques can identify and respond to pain signals as they occur. Adaptive control algorithms will then adjust the therapy automatically, creating a “closed-loop” system that continuously fine-tunes itself to the individual’s needs.
Over its duration, EPIONE will develop several pioneering tools:
- Brain implants capable of detecting and responding to pain signals instantly.
- Automated drug delivery systems that control dosage safely and accurately.
- Non-invasive brain stimulation methods, including magnetic and ultrasound-based approaches.
- Smart feedback interfaces to help patients retrain how their brains process pain.
According to Innovation News Network, the programme’s design process places strong emphasis on patient collaboration. Individuals living with chronic pain will contribute directly to testing and shaping the new technologies, ensuring they meet both clinical and practical needs.
Oxford’s team will work with several UK universities and NHS partners, as well as Amber Therapeutics, whose existing adaptive brain implant will serve as a platform for EPIONE’s first clinical trials.
By linking engineering innovation with patient-centred design, EPIONE could mark a turning point in how chronic pain is understood and treated.
