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 Sept 2001 → …
Hon Professor of Pain Medicine, University of Edinburgh
Fingerprint
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Network
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SenseCheQ: Community-Based Sensory Testing for Early Identification of Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (Mapping Complexity of Pain with the Advanced Pain Discovery Platform) (Joint with University of Bristol, University of Newcastle and University of Oxford)
14/05/22 → 13/05/25
Project: Research
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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. & Veluchamy, A.
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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Advances and challenges in neuropathic pain: a narrative review and future directions
Attal, N., Bouhassira, D. & Colvin, L., 18 May 2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: British Journal of Anaesthesia. 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
A Meta-Analysis of the Genome-Wide Association Studies on Two Genetically Correlated Phenotypes Suggests Four New Risk Loci for Headaches
Meng, W., Reel, P. S., Nangia, C., Lathika Rajendrakumar, A., Hebert, H. L., Guo, Q., Adams, M. J., Zheng, H., Lu, Z. H., 23andMe Research Team, Ray, D., Colvin, L. A., Palmer, C. N. A., McIntosh, A. M. & Smith, B. H., Feb 2023, In: Phenomics. 3, p. 64-76 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile12 Downloads (Pure) -
Cross-sectional study examining the epidemiology of chronic pain in Nepal
Higgins, C., Sharma, S., Bimali, I., Hales, T. G., Cameron, P. A., Smith, B. H. & Colvin, L., Mar 2023, In: PAIN Reports. 8, 2, 10 p., e1067.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure) -
Development and external validation of multivariable risk models to predict incident and resolved neuropathic pain: a DOLORisk Dundee study
Hebert, H. L., Veluchamy, A., Baskozos, G., Fardo, F., Van Ryckeghem, D., Pearson, E. R., Colvin, L. A., Crombez, G., Bennett, D. L. H., Meng, W., Palmer, C. N. A. & Smith, B. H., Feb 2023, In: Journal of Neurology. 270, p. 1076-1094 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure) -
Effect of a continuous perineural levobupivacaine infusion on pain after major lower limb amputation: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Hunt, W., Nath, M., Bowrey, S., Colvin, L. & Thompson, J. P., 10 Feb 2023, In: BMJ Open. 13, 2, 12 p., e060349.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile8 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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Macintosh Professorship
Colvin, Lesley (Recipient), 1 Nov 2005
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Expressions of Pain
Blair Smith (Member), Lesley Colvin (Contributor), Paul Harrison (Contributor) & Chris Lim (Member)
13 Mar 2023Activity: Other activity types › Public engagement and outreach - public lecture/debate/seminar
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Guest Editor of Pain Matters
Lesley Colvin (Member)
May 2022 → …Activity: Other activity types › Public engagement and outreach - public lecture/debate/seminar
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NRS Pain/ Scottish Pain Research Community Annual Scientific Meeting
Lesley Colvin (Organiser)
28 Oct 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Memeber of NeuPSIG Management Committee
Lesley Colvin (Member)
2021 → …Activity: Other activity types › Other
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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