Ask the Experts: Neuropathic Pain from a Primary Care Perspective

Abstract

Blair H Smith, MD, MEd, FRCGP, FRCP, Edin, qualified in medicine at the University of Glasgow (Scotland, UK) in 1987, and as a general practitioner in 1993. He is the Professor of Population Science at the University of Dundee (Scotland, UK), having previously been the Professor of Primary Care Medicine at the University of Aberdeen (Scotland, UK). He is also a general practitioner with the Peterhead Medical Practice (Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK). His research on the epidemiology and primary care management of chronic (neuropathic) pain has been widely published with more than 100 original research articles in peer-reviewed medical journals, and numerous related book chapters. He leads a program of research, funded by the UK Medical Research Council, on the selfmanagement of chronic pain by older adults, and is also one of the Chief Investigators in Generation Scotland, a major family study for research into the genetics of health and illness, including pain. He is currently the Treasurer of the Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group of the International Association for the Study of Pain and Director of the Scottish Pain Research Community.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of Future Medicine Ltd.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

BH Smith has received research funding (unrestricted educational grant) from Pfizer Ltd (Kent, UK), for research into the epidemiology of neuropathic pain. This research has been published in peer-reviewed journals. He has received occasional consultancy and lecture fees from Pfizer Ltd. He is in the process of discussing research collaboration with Grünenthal GmbH (Aachen, Germany). BH Smith has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.