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Consulting in neuropathic pain

Working at the boundary of research and industry can present challenges, but Imperial Consultants helps academics like Professor Andrew Rice to balance research and consulting.

Professor Rice’s work is at the interface between clinical trials and animal modelling, researching neuropathic pain - chronic pain associated with nerve injury or diseases of the nervous system such as HIV or herpes zoster (shingles).

His time is split between developing animal models and studying humans to understand the mechanisms of neuropathic pain in a variety of disease settings. The animal models his team develops are informed by the detailed study of relevant patients. He also has expertise in designing clinical trials to test novel therapeutics in neuropathic pain as well as synthesising the clinical evidence base through meta-analysis of clinical trials.

Clinically, he runs a regular NHS Pain Medicine clinical practice, which treats patients suffering from the range of conditions associated with neuropathic pain, with a particular focus on peripheral nerve injury, HIV disease and post herpetic neuralgia. Being involved in both clinical and laboratory science appeals to Rice, as the best way to help improve the drugs available to patients.

Expertise in demand
Working at this interface means that companies often require his expertise to help them answer specific questions. They often need to know whether the efficacy data for a novel therapeutic gained from research in animal models is sufficient to justify initiating a clinical trials programme. He is also often asked to assist with clinical trial design and data interpretation.

Professor Rice declines some of the consulting work that is offered to him. “Defining the boundaries I work within is really important to me.” explains Rice. “I stick strictly to my area of expertise and choose work which is scientifically interesting to me.”

And the consultancy work does often lead further interactions such as contract research projects or collaborations with industry or academic colleagues through the networking opportunities consulting offers.

Taking the hassle out of it
“Contracting my consultancy work through Imperial Consultants takes care of the burden of the administrative work associated with consulting. They’ve helped me distinguish approaches from companies which are genuine scientific consultancy requests from those which are frankly little more than attempts to assist with marketing; an activity in which I have no wish to become involved” explains Rice.

He encourages all academics thinking about working as a research consultant to contact Imperial Consultants. “I know that I can leave all the administration, legal, contractual and financial aspects to them and concentrate on the actual scientific consulting. They have unmatched expertise in agreeing appropriate fees and conditions with companies because they work with so many consultants across so many fields.” he says. “In this day and age the indemnity offered by managing consultancy work through Imperial Consultants is also very important to me. I’d advise all academics to consider consultancy through Imperial Consultants. And of course, the work is fun!”