Supporting Innovative Pain Research

EFIC-Grunenthal Grant 2009 Awarded to Five Young Scientists

AACHEN, Germany, December 4 - The European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for
the Study of pain (EFIC) and the pharmaceutical company Grunenthal awarded
the EFIC-Grunenthal Grant to five young European scientists. The grant will
provide financial support for their future projects in innovative,
exploratory clinical and human experimental pain research. This year's
projects will investigate factors contributing to the development of
neuropathic pain, the role of the hormone oxytocin in placebo analgesia and
aspects of pain in children and newborns. Grunenthal donates a total of EUR
100,000 for the grant which will be divided between the five winners.

"We are glad that we have once again received many interesting research
proposals from young pain researchers across Europe," said Professor Giustino
Varrassi, President of EFIC. "As we have seen with previous research
supported by the EFIC-Grunenthal Grant, the five projects we have chosen this
year will contribute valuable insights and help the medical community achieve
a better understanding of pain. Pain is a condition affecting the everyday
lives of millions of people worldwide and also poses a huge economic burden
for societies. Understanding the mechanisms of pain is crucial to improving
treatment in pain patients."

Winners and Projects 2009

The decision on the winners was entirely made by the EFIC Sub-Committee
on Research, which decided to support the following five young researchers
with EUR 20,000 each:

Luana Colloca (Italy): Oxytocin and placebo effect

Luana Colloca from the University of Turin will receive funding for her
research on placebo effect and the role of oxytocin as a biochemical mediator
of placebo analgesia.

Elspeth Hutton (UK): Neuroimmune cutaneous interactions in the genesis of
chronic neuropathic pain

Elspeth Hutton from the MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, London is
being recognised for her research on the role of skin neuroimmune
interactions in the genesis of chronic neuropathic pain.

Rebeccah Slater (UK): Measuring pain in the human infant brain

Rebeccah Slater from University College London is focusing on measuring
pain in the deeper structures of human infant brain and investigates how the
infant brain is activated by noxious stimulation.

Tine Vervoort (Belgium): Pain demands the attention of others: Parental
detection, interpretation and responses to their child's pain

Tine Vervoort from Ghent University will investigate determinants of
parental attention to and interpretation of their child's pain and how this
influences their behaviour.

Gunnar Wasner (Germany): Role of nociceptive afferents in neuropathic
pain

Gunnar Wasner from the University of Kiel will focus on whether lesions
in different afferent nociceptors might influence the development of
neuropathic pain.

"At Grunenthal we know that it is all about innovative ideas and the
passion to move forward. With our long-term experience in pain therapy, we
are dedicated to being a leading company in terms of developing new
therapeutic agents in pain treatment," explained Wolfgang Becker, Member of
the Executive Board of Grunenthal GmbH. "With the EFIC-Grunenthal Grant we
hope to drive innovative ideas and encourage passionate researchers who are
working for a better understanding of pain. We wish the winners all the best
for their projects and are looking forward to learning more about the results
of their research."

Further information on the EFIC-Grunenthal Grant, including this year's
winners and projects, is available at www.e-g-g.info. A digital press
kit including photos from the award ceremony is accessible online at
www.grunenthal.com/press.

About EFIC

The European Federation of IASP(R) Chapters (EFIC(R)) is a
multidisciplinary professional organisation in the field of pain science and
medicine, made up of over 34 European Chapters of IASP(R). Established in
1993, by Professor Ulf Lindblom, EFIC's constituent chapters represent close
to 20,000 scientists, physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists and
other healthcare professionals across Europe, who study pain and treat
patients in pain. www.efic.org

About Grunenthal

Grunenthal is passionate about being the preferred global partner in pain
management for patients, health care professionals and payors. The
corporation drives innovation to expand European market leadership in
moderate to severe pain. Grunenthal is an independent, family-owned German
corporation with companies in 34 countries all over the world. Founded in
1946, the corporation employs 2,000 people in Germany and 5,200 worldwide. In
2008, Grunenthal achieved revenues of about 864 million Euros. More
information: www.grunenthal.com

    Contacts:

    Grunenthal GmbH
    Dr Nicole Foellmer
    Phone: +49-241-569-2858
    Fax:   +49-241-569-52858
    nicole.foellmer@grunenthal.com

    Hering Schuppener Healthcare
    Bjoern Haertel
    Phone: +49-40-36-80-75-21
    Fax:   +49-40-36-80-75-99
    bhaertel@hs-healthcare.de

Current press materials are available in the press section at
www.grunenthal.com.

Contacts: Grunenthal GmbH, Dr Nicole Foellmer, Phone: +49-241-569-2858, Fax: +49-241-569-52858, nicole.foellmer at grunenthal.com; Hering Schuppener Healthcare, Bjoern Haertel, Phone: +49-40-36-80-75-21, Fax: +49-40-36-80-75-99, bhaertel at hs-healthcare.de