Researchers and patients are brought together to apply for grants
The BMP Grant is an initiative of Pain Alliance Europe, co-sponsored by Boston Scientific, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. and Grünenthal , which encourages patient-centric, patient driven, scientifically robust innovation and research projects, while creating better access to innovative treatments, promoting prevention and self-management approaches, decreasing stigma and, finally, working together to improve the quality of life for people living with these disabling conditions.
The ‘Brain, Mind and Pain Patient-Centred Innovation Grants’ aim to create an environment where the patient’s involvement is the basis for new initiatives. The aim is to create new ideas which will directly impact on patients’ needs, and at the same time increase awareness of chronic pain conditions and neurological disorders.
Pain
a challenge for individuals and healthcare systems
Pain causes a problem for individuals as well as being a challenge for healthcare systems, economies and society: each year, approximately 1 in 5 Europeans or 20% of the adult population in Europe are affected by chronic pain (1). This includes 153 million people suffering migraine or other disabling headaches, 200 million people with musculoskeletal disorders and 100 million people experiencing other chronic pain (2).
Four of the top 12 global disabling conditions – low back and neck pain, migraine, arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions – are persistent pain conditions (3). Pain related conditions result in more people having to retire too early. With more than 500 million sick days per year in Europe, musculoskeletal pain causes almost 50% of all absences from work lasting three or more days in the EU and 60% of permanent work incapacity (4).
The estimated direct and indirect healthcare costs for chronic pain disorders in European Member States vary from 2 % to 2.9 % of GDP across the EU (4). For 2016, this estimate results in €296 – €429 billions (5). Healthy citizens, on the other hand, reduce the strain on healthcare systems and boost economic growth by staying active for longer.
Pain has a huge personal impact. It is among the top causes of disability in every region of Europe and increases the risks of other health problems, social exclusion and poverty (6) (7). Stigma and lack of public knowledge worsen the burden on patients and families by preventing people from seeking treatment. Yet pain remains poorly managed and under-treated, affecting not only patients, but society at large (2). Large health inequalities persist in the EU as many patients do not have access to effective pain treatment.
What is the BMP Grant?
The Brain, Mind and Pain ‘Patient-Centred Innovation Grant’ (BMP Grant) is an initiative of Pain Alliance Europe and is supported by Boston Scientific, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. and Grünenthal to identify, stimulate and promote patient-centric and scientifically robust innovation in the field of chronic pain and neurological disorders, stimulate research and access to innovative treatments, promote prevention and self-management approaches, reduce stigma and work together to improve the quality of life for people living with these disabling conditions.
The BMP Grant objectives focus on three areas of work: access to innovative treatments, prevention and self-management approaches, reducing stigma, and research to improve quality of life. A jury of patient representatives, supported by scientific experts, ensures that the nominated winner addresses the challenges faced by patients.
The biennial BMP Grant fund totals 60,000 EUR. This amount is distributed amongst the winning proposals, following the decision of the BMP Grant Jury for each edition.
The application period for the third edition will start on 30 November 2021 and end on 31 March 2022.
About Pain Alliance Europe
Pain Alliance Europe is a non-governmental umbrella organization of national associations committed to improving the quality of life of people with chronic pain in Europe.
For PAE, quality of life for chronic pain patients means giving the patient the right to choose the best possible solutions and the support to live their lives according to their possibilities and wishes. It aims to increase awareness of chronic pain, to promote European policy on chronic pain and to reduce the impact of chronic pain on the European society at all levels.