Benedict Alter, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Director of Translational Pain Research in our department, has been awarded a Women’s Pain Research Challenge Award by the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).
The award supports Dr. Alter’s project, “SharpFocus Stimulation to Treat Fibromyalgia Pain in Women,” which aims to address the pressing need for novel, noninvasive therapies for fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition that disproportionately affects women. The research seeks to refine and implement SharpFocus Stimulation (SFS), an innovative transcranial electrical stimulation technique developed to alleviate fibromyalgia-related pain by targeting specific areas of the brain with precision and minimal discomfort.
Dr. Alter will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), including co-principal investigator Pulkit Grover, PhD, and members of his lab, Mats Forssell, PhD, and researcher and entrepreneur Vishal Jain, PhD, who is also developing home-based applications of this technology.
The project will build on promising preliminary data and innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence-driven modeling, to optimize stimulation parameters and improve clinical outcomes for women with fibromyalgia. The study will involve a pilot trial focused on evaluating the tolerability, effectiveness, and scalability of SFS in women diagnosed with this debilitating condition.
Fibromyalgia presents a significant clinical challenge due to the limited efficacy of current treatments and the adverse side effects of pharmacologic therapies. SFS offers a personalized, noninvasive solution that targets brain regions involved in pain modulation, potentially providing relief where existing treatments fall short.
The initiative represents a significant step forward in advancing pain management and underscores the University of Pittsburgh and CMU’s shared commitment to pioneering patient-centered research.
Congratulations to Dr. Alter and his collaborators for their dedication and innovation in addressing women’s pain conditions. Their efforts not only aim to alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms but also hold promise for other pain-related conditions disproportionately affecting women. We look forward to the impactful findings and potential translational applications of this research.
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