The Pain Relief Foundation
The Pain Relief Foundation was established as a registered
charity in 1979, in response to the need for specialised research
into the causes and treatment of chronic pain in humans.
Incorporated into the charity's trust deeds are its aims
and objectives, which are:-
- to carry out
research leading to the alleviation of chronic pain.
- to find improved
methods of treating chronic pain.
- to disseminate
the results of such research throughout the world.
- to work in
co-operation with the NHS and Universities to provide post-graduate
scientific education in chronic pain relief.
The Foundation is closely associated with the Pain Clinic
at the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust.
The purpose of the Foundation was the setting up and running
of a Pain Research Institute.
The late Dr. Sampson Lipton, founder and director of the Walton
Centre Pain Clinic for nearly 30 years, and two of his colleagues
- Mr. John Miles, then a Consultant Neurosurgeon and Dr. David
Bowsher, then a Reader in the University of Liverpool, set
up the Pain Resarch Institute with the twin functions
of teaching and research.
 A
grant from the Wolfson Foundation enabled the Institute to
start work in a temporary building in Walton Hospital grounds
in 1981. A custom built research institute was opened in 1985
on land adjoining Walton Hospital. In 1999 the Walton Centre
moved to a new hospital on the old Fazakerley Hospital site,
now the University Hospital Aintree. Because of this, in 2000
both the Foundation and the Institute moved into a new Clinical
Sciences Centre for Research and Education at University Hospital
Aintree, in order to be close to the Pain Clinic and to be
part of the growing association with the University.
The Institute receives no funding from the NHS, the University
or any other government body. It is entirely supported by
charitable donations, fund raising and specific research grants.
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