Research

Disclaimer

The Facial Pain Association posts information about relevant medical studies and trials which may be of interest to people affected with neuropathic facial pain. These listings are provided as a convenience only and are not to be considered an endorsement or recommendation by FPA. The safety and scientific validity of a study listed on this site is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators.

All studies and trials listed have IRB or Ethics Committee approval where relevant. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee established to review and approve research involving human subjects. The purpose of the IRB is to ensure that all human subject research be conducted in accordance with all federal, institutional, and ethical guidelines. The FPA website provides a brief introduction to studies and trials, with links to the study and contact information. All information is provided by the research organization. Patients should contact the research organization for more information using the contact information provided. Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Before you participate in a study, discuss all options with your health care provider and other trusted advisors. Members of the FPA Medical Advisory Board (MAB) will provide ongoing guidance and information about relevant research studies.

The Research Initiative

Our goals for this new initiative are to empower patients and caregivers with knowledge that helps you be educated partners in your healthcare, and to encourage more research on facial pain and relevant issues faced by those with facial pain.

To reach these goals, FPA will provide four resources:

  • Information about clinical trials and studies
  • Opportunities to get involved with research
  • Articles on published studies
  • Non-financial support for researchers 

What are clinical trials and studies?

The goal of clinical trials and studies is to discover new, better treatments (and cures) for the condition being studied. Clinical study involves research using human participants that is intended to add to medical knowledge. In a clinical trial, participants receive specific interventions according to the research plan or protocol created by the investigators. These interventions may be medical products, such as drugs or devices; procedures; or changes to participants’ behavior, such as diet. Clinical trials also come with some degree of risk. There is a chance that the treatment being studied might not work as expected. It might not be better than the standard of care. The study drug could also cause an unexpected side effect, especially in earlier phase trials. Interventional trials test whether a specific intervention (such as a drug, device or behavioral change) affects health-related outcomes. Observational studies place participants in groups based on their characteristics. An intervention is tested in each of these groups.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Before you participate in a study, discuss all options with your health care provider.

For Researchers

How can FPA help your research? We provide non-financial support of your efforts in a number of ways, including:

  • Community survey data
  • Patient or caregiver advisory
  • Focus groups
  • Patient Registry data
  • Survey/questionnaire distribution

Contact mbaumbick@facepain.org

Research News