PSPP is now accepting compounds for evaluation continuously on an ongoing basis. The PSPP provides the participant with feedback on results and recommends next steps in the process. Each stage of evaluation occurs with NINDS PSPP staff consultation with the participant. Accepted agents are evaluated in assays whose sequence is described in specific flow charts. Research offered by the PSPP will be a key step in transitioning HEAL preclinical programs into clinical programs, directly aligned with the HEAL Initiative goal of “accelerating the discovery and pre-clinical development of non-addictive pain treatments.” Description of Testing ServicesĮvaluation of a submitted compound for suitability for testing in the PSPP begins with an assessment of the proposed scientific rationale. More than 25 million Americans live with daily chronic pain and lack effective and safe non-opioid options for pain management. The Federal Pain Research Strategy, published in 2017, strongly supported the development of safer new, non-opioid analgesics. PSPP conducts an assessment of in vitro and pharmacokinetic profiles, side effect profiles, abuse liability, and efficacy in models relevant to human pain conditions. The overall goal of the PSPP is to provide pain researchers from the academic and industry community with an efficient, rigorous one-stop in vivo screening resource to accelerate efficacy profiling and identification of alternatives to opioid analgesics. NINDS PSPP staff report test results to participants and provide advice on next steps for promising agents. Under NINDS direction, preclinical testing of submitted agents is performed by contract facilities on a blinded and confidential basis and at no cost to the PSPP participants. With NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative support, NINDS is developing a Preclinical Screening Platform for Pain (PSPP) program to facilitate the identification of potential non-addictive treatments (small molecules, biologics, devices, or natural products) for acute and chronic pain conditions.