Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Chair in Pain Medicine, University of Dundee/ Consultant in Anaesthesia & Pain Medicine, NHS Tayside
Deputy Head of Division , Population Health and Genomics
Hon. Professor in Pain Medicine, University of Edinburgh
Until May 2018, Lesley was a full time pain specialist in the Lothian Chronic Pain Service, and Hon Professor, University of Edinburgh. She took up post as Chair of Pain Medicine, University of Dundee, in May 2018.
Her qualifications and training include: FRCP (Edin) 2013; FFPMRCA, 2007; CCT in Anaesthesia, 2000; PhD, University of Edinburgh. Spinal Mechanisms of Neuropathic Pain. (Supervisor: Prof Arthur Duggan) 1997; FRCA 1994; MBChB, University of Edinburgh 1990; BSc(Hons) 1987.
Since undertaking a basic science PhD during her anaesthesia training, she has aimed to ensure that clinical practice is informed by research, and that current research is relevant to the challenges faced in clinical pain management. Recognising the importance of cross discipline collaboration, she was one of the founders of the Edinburgh Translational Research in Pain (ETRiP) collaboration, set up in 2000. The aim was to bring together clinicians and basic scientists from a range of backgrounds to effectively translate novel basic science findings to clinical benefit. This developed, with successful grant applications and publications. In Dundee, working with Profs Blair Smith (Population Health) and Tim Hales (Neuroscience), the aim is to progress pain research, using an iterative approach to understand and improve management of challenging clinical pain syndromes. This includes collaboration with Irene Tracey, from Oxford, using fMRI to better understand clinical pain syndromes, such as chemotherapy induced neuropathy and multiple sclerosis.
Research interests
External Positions
She has been on the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Anaesthesia since 2005, and an Editor since 2010, handling up to 150 manuscripts per year, as well as being involved in strategic planning for the journal. She is the main editor for a special pain issue (May2019) on Advances in Pain Medicine, with a current call out for original research papers (https://www.journals.elsevier.com/british-journal-of-anaesthesia/call-for-papers/bja-special-issue-on-pain-medicine-call-for-papers). A previous Pain Special issues she edited featured on BBC Breakfast TV 17/06/2013). The impact factor has increased steadily from 4.22 in 2010 (3rd out of 26 journal) to 6.499 in 2018 (one of the top ranked journals in this category).
She has been on the National Steering Group for Chronic Pain, since its inception in 2008, now the National Advisory Committee for Chronic Pain. She chairs the Scottish Pain Research Community (SPaRC)/ NRS Pain Research Network (see https://www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk/research-areas/pain), and represents Scotland on the NIHR CRN for Pain. She chaired the SIGN Guideline development group for Management of Chronic Pain (SIGN 136), published in 2013, and is currently updating the opioids section, in light of new evidence.
She is also a member of SIGN Council, and represents SIGN on the Scottish Board of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. She was previously Specialty Advisor for Chronic Pain, to the Chief Medical Officer. Through this role she co-chaired a new guideline for the Management of Chronic Pain in Children and Young People (see https://www.gov.scot/Publications/2018/03/8609).
Research interests
Undertaking research on COVID-19 to address the current coronavirus pandemic.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Edinburgh
Award Date: 1 Jul 1997
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Edinburgh
Award Date: 1 Jul 1990
Bachelor of Science, University of Edinburgh
Award Date: 1 Jul 1987
External positions
Editor, British Journal of Anaesthesia
30 Sep 2001 → …
Hon Professor of Pain Medicine, University of Edinburgh
Fingerprint
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Network
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Partnership for Assessment and Investigation of Neuropathic Pain: Studies Tracking Outcomes, Risks and Mechanisms (PAINSTORM) - (Joint with Universities of Oxford, Ghent and Aberdeen, Imperial College London and King's College London) (Advanced Pain Discovery Platform)
Colvin, L., Smith, B. & Steele, D.
14/07/21 → 13/07/25
Project: Research
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Consortium Against Pain InEquality (CAPE) - The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Chronic Pain and Responses to Treatment (Joint with University of Aberdeen, University of Edinburgh, University of Stirling and University College, London) (Advanced Pain Discovery Platform)
Brown, A., Colvin, L., Hales, T. & Steele, D.
1/07/21 → 30/06/25
Project: Research
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Alleviate: Hub for Pain (Pain Research Data Hub - UKRI and Versus Arthritis Strategic Priority Fund (SPF) Advanced Pain Discovery Platform) (Joint with University of Oxford, University of Bath, King's College London, Imperial College London and University of Nottingham)
Colvin, L., Hales, T., Jefferson, E., Smith, B. & Walls, R.
1/07/21 → 30/06/24
Project: Research
Research output
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Analgesic use and associated adverse events in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Lambourg, E., Colvin, L., Guthrie, G., Walker, H. & Bell, S., 1 Mar 2022, In: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 128, 3, p. 546-561 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
The core minimum dataset for measuring pain outcomes in pain services across Scotland. Developing and testing a brief multi-dimensional questionnaire
Laskawska, M. S., Hébert, H. L., Richardson, C., Berlouis, K., Cameron, P., Colvin, L. A. & Smith, B. H., 16 May 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: British Journal of Pain. 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
The impact of gabapentinoid and opioid prescribing practices on drug deaths: an epidemiological perspective
Hebert, H. L., Colvin, L. A. & Smith, B. H., May 2022, In: Pain Management. 12, 4, p. 397-400 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
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Assessing the impact of SIGN 136 on opioid prescribing rates in Scotland: An interrupted time series analysis
Hebert, H. L., Morales, D. R., Torrance, N., Smith, B. H. & Colvin, L. A., 23 Feb 2021, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: medRxiv, 18 p.Research output: Working paper/Preprint › Preprint
Open Access -
Drugs for chronic pain: we still need them
Smith, B. H., Colvin, L., Donaldson-Bruce, A. & Birt, A., Apr 2021, In: British Journal of General Practice. 71, 705, p. 172 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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Macintosh Professorship
Colvin, Lesley (Recipient), 1 Nov 2005
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Discovery Days 2019
Jonathan Urch (Organiser), Lynn Kilbride (Presenter), Jacob George (Presenter), Brenda Keatch (Presenter), Nick Hopkins (Presenter), Victoria Cowling (Presenter), Qi Zhao (Presenter), Cameron Ross (Presenter), Samia Khan (Presenter), David Keeble (Presenter), Nicholas Fyfe (Presenter), Aliki Varvogli (Presenter), Anja Johansen (Presenter), Kevin Read (Presenter), Maggie Bartlett (Presenter), Jason Nelson (Presenter), Raphael Heffron (Presenter), Lesley Colvin (Presenter), Simon Arthur (Presenter), Volker Röben (Presenter), James Chalmers (Presenter), Leanne Wallace (Organiser), Niamh Nic Daeid (Presenter), Bob Steele (Presenter), Annie Anderson (Presenter), Andrew Atherton (Chair), Wendy Alexander (Chair) & John Rowan (Chair)
9 Jan 2019 → 11 Jan 2019Activity: Other activity types › Public engagement and outreach - public lecture/debate/seminar
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Pain - recent advances, novel imaging and new challenges
Lesley Colvin (Member)
11 Jun 2013Activity: Other activity types › Public engagement and outreach - media article or participation
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Edinburgh International Science Festival
Lesley Colvin (Participant)
30 Apr 2012Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Festival/Exhibition
Press / Media
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Update to opioid section of SIN 136: Management of Chronic Pain
21/08/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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The Briefing Room: Does the UK have an opioid problem?
2/05/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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How to work out in midlife… when everything hurts
27/01/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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