Towards improving pain management for children using patient-specific genetic information

In children, ongoing pain can interfere with brain development, disrupt behaviour and increase the risk of chronic pain. This can be particularly devastating in children with high burdens of pain, such as children with cancer, many of whom experience highly-distressing pain requiring opioids. Providing timely and adequate pain treatment for these children is critical, yet it remains challenging to predict who will experience pain requiring opioids and how these children will respond to prescribed opioids. This is especially difficult in young children who cannot articulate their level of pain, limiting their ability to receive appropriate relief without harm.

My research program is working to identify unique genetic signatures that predict how likely a child is to develop painful conditions, experience severe pain and respond to opioid-based pain relievers. This information will be used to develop predictive genetic tests to inform medication choices that will enhance the safety and effectiveness of pain management strategies for children. This work also has the power to combat the opioid crisis that continues to devastate British Columbians, where opioids can be restricted to patients most likely to benefit without harm.