press release
Published: 01 October 2024

University of Surrey and EptivA Therapeutics announce partnership aimed at advancing the development of chronic pain medicines

The need for safer, more effective pain management options has now become urgent, according to award-winning scientist Dr Matt Parker, who has recently been awarded a Short Industry Fellowship from the Royal Society.   

Matt Parker standing outside of the stag

Dr Mark Field of EptivA (left) and Dr Matt Parker (right)

Over the next 12 months, Parker and his team, as part of the Fellowship, will work with EptivA Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, to research a new personalised medication for those suffering from chronic pain. Existing drug treatments for chronic pain often have limited effectiveness, significantly affecting quality of life. Additionally, these treatments can come with considerable side effects, including the risk of abuse, as seen in the opioid crisis.  

Chronic pain affects millions of people across the world, impeding their ability to work and participate in social and other activities like they used to. Frustratingly, drug development and subsequent testing processes, which could help such people, are flawed due to the complexities of the condition, resulting in limited drugs making it to market.

The need for safer, more effective pain management options has now become urgent so that people can manage their pain effectively without experiencing side effects. Dr Matthew Parker, Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience

EptivA employs a data-driven, personalised approach to pain management. Central to this research partnership is their innovative new Pain Cloud® platform, developed in collaboration with biotech firm Infopoly.  This platform uses computer modelling to validate new targets for pain research and, crucially, identify the most suitable patient groups for clinical development. 

During this partnership, Surrey scientists, in collaboration with EptivA Therapeutics, will examine the effectiveness of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) as a non-opioid pain reliever. Using zebrafish larvae, which share 70 percent of the same genes as humans, the team will test cholecalciferol’s effectiveness against various pain-inducing chemicals and examine its interaction with the Vitamin D receptor. This builds on findings from EptivA, which used its Pain Cloud® research platform to uncover links between the Vitamin D receptor gene and specific pain conditions. 

Our collaboration with EptivA Therapeutics could revolutionise treatment for those suffering from chronic pain. It is important that the academic scientific community engage with companies such as EptivA so that we can develop innovative ideas and techniques to improve the wellbeing and overall health of the population, and I am delighted my Royal Society Short Industry Fellowship has enabled me to do this. Matt Parker

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Matt Parker

Dr Matthew Parker

Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience

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