Institute for Pain Research & Care Seed Grants Topicals for Osteoarthritis Pain in Knee Surgery (TOPIKS): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Primary Investigator: Harsha Shanthanna, MD, PhD, FRCPC Start Date: 2019
Brief Overview and Progress to Date The primary objective of this pilot trial is to assess the feasibility of a definitive trial to determine the effect of topical cannabidiol (CBD) and/or topical diclofenac versus placebo on postoperative pain and opioid use in patients after primary total knee arthroplasty.
A Pilot Study of Association of BIOmarkers and Neuropathic Pain with Intercostobrachial Nerves Sparing in breast surgery to improve Persistent postsurgical pain-an International RandomizEd controlled trial (BIO-INSPIRE) Primary Investigator: Harsha Shanthanna, MD, PhD, FRCPC Start Date: 2021
Brief Overview and Progress to Date BIO-INSPIRE is a feasibility study that aims to evaluate cytokine levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα and neuropathic pain in patients
This will be a 2x2 factorial trial assessing the following treatments: Topical
participating in the INSPIRE study (a multi-centre pilot study of
diclofenac, Topical CBD, Topical diclofenac and topical CBD, and Placebo.
50 patients to establish the effect of intercostobrachial nerve
The conduct of this trial requires No Objection Letter (NOL) from Health
preservation on persistent post-surgical pain following breast
Canada for the use of CBD product. We have been in discussion with
cancer surgery) and underwent axillary lymph node dissection
several medical Cannabis suppliers to support this trial to provide us with
during breast cancer surgery. The INSPIRE study recruited
topical CBD product that is manufactured as per GMP compliant practices
participants from two hospitals in Canada and two hospitals in India
and preclinical data.
and 46 of the 50 patients were included in the BIOINSPIRE study.
After multiple discussions, we are now working with a company that is
Study samples of BIOINSPIRE were analyzed at Hamilton (Canada)
interested in providing support and working towards getting safety data to
and Bangalore (India) separately. Presently, we are working on the
facilitate Health Canada application.
statistical analysis and we plan to publish the study results in the next few months.
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