Pain

1 in 3 people in the United States are impacted by unrelieved pain.

600+

pain studies

16

sites with pain expertise

Pain management is a leading public health challenge; the current opioid epidemic underscores the critical need for new approaches to both chronic and acute pain. ERG stands ready, delivering the expertise, facilities, and access to patient populations needed to accelerate drug development in this area.

Demonstrated Expertise in Key Indications

  • Chronic Back and Neck Pain
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  • Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN)
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Neuropathic Pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)

Demonstrated Expertise in Post-Operative Pain Management Following Key Surgical Procedures

  • Abdominoplasty
  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Bunionectomy
  • Cesarean Section
  • Herniorrhaphy (Pediatric and Adult)
  • Hysterectomy
  • Third Molar Extraction
  • Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
  • Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)

Industry Experts in Pain Management

ERG sites are led by recognized industry leaders, experts in chronic and acute pain who currently or formerly serve on the advisory boards of major pharmaceutical companies and industry groups, such as the American Pain Society, and who have delivered hundreds of peer-reviewed articles and conference presentations. In the conduct of postoperative pain studies, our staff are extensively trained in administering study-specific analgesic scales, applying universal ERG-specific analgesic methodology, controlling environmental expectations, and managing and analyzing variability in clinical operations. They are also ACLS/PALS/BLS/CITI certified. Add our careful selection and training of surgeons and anesthesiologists for specific operatory techniques, and our long-standing operative and research teams. The result: Trial consistency across multiple sites with a marked reduction of the placebo effect.

ERG’s Experienced Pain Team

Sarah D. Atkinson, MD
Robert Billingsley, Jr., MD
Mark Brody, MD
Arthur Flippin, MD
Daniel Gruener, MD
George Konis, MD
Denise Roberts, RN, CCRC
Stephen Thein, PhD

Affiliate Pain Team

Evgeny Fink, MD
Nick Vatakis, MD

Specialized Resources for Acute and Post-Operative Pain Studies

Our custom-built research facility has onsite surgical suites to support clinical research studies in acute and postoperative pain, as well as in chronic conditions such as migraine. With private patient rooms for both short- and long-term stays, four study-specific nurses’ stations, 24-hour medical coverage, and meal service that can accommodate strict dietary restrictions, we give patients critical support at every juncture. Our CLIA-waived lab and pharmacy have designated double-locked narcotics storage, temperature control, real-time security video surveillance, and remote out-of-range notification.


Specialized Equipment

All ERG equipment is calibrated annually, or more often if required.

  • Large back-up generator
  • Crash carts/emergency resuscitation equipment
  • Electrocardiograms with QTcF and QTcB capability
  • Capnograms
  • Infusion pumps
  • -20C freezers
  • -70C freezers
  • C-Arm
  • Digital X-ray
  • Analox GM9 glucose analyzers
  • Heated hand boxes
  • Atomic clocks


ERG expertise spans a wide range of chronic and acute pain clinical research

Pain infographic

Spotlight

Doctor icon

Harold Minkowitz, MD

Analgesic/Pain Therapeutic Area Lead

  • President – Analgesics, Perioperative & Hospital Based Research
  • Co-founder of HD Research
  • Over 25 years of clinical experience.
  • He has conducted over 240 studies
  • Has published and lectured extensively on anesthesia and pain
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Texas, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative medicine.
  • Hold Degrees from Hillbrow Hospital and The University of the Witwatersrand (MD), Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Board-certified in Anesthesiology

Learn More
Doctor icon

David Leiman, MD

Analgesics, Acute & Chronic Pain

    • President – Analgesics, Acute & Chronic Pain
    • Co-founder of HD Research
    • Dr. Leiman is board-certified anesthesiologist.
    • Holds degrees from St. George’s University School of Medicine, UCLA Anderson School of Management (MBA), the University of Texas at Houston (MD)
    • a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas at Houston
    • Board Certified in Anesthesiology

Learn More