SIMPAR (Study in Multidisciplnary PAin Research) group was created in 2007 by the Pain Therapy Service of IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, in collaboration with the Unit of Clinical Pharmacokinetics and the Clinical Epidemiology and Biometric Unit of this hospital and two departments of University of Pavia: The Department of Genetics and Microbiology and the Department of Experimental and Applied Pharmacology, respectively.

The purpose of each analgesic therapy, based on opioids, is the achievement of the best analgesia without side effects. As far, a customized pain therapy considering the clinical aspects, the genetic background and the metabolic capacity of each patient has not been still detected.

To face an innovative approach for patients suffering from acute post-surgical pain or chronic pain (either oncologic or not) the Pain Therapy Service founded the SIMPAR group, to take advantage of the specific competence of different professors in Pavia. The synergy of these units will optimize the management of pain, customizing, by the genetic and pharmacokinetic analysis, the opioid therapies. This will lead to clinical trials with the best benefit and the minor tolerance and/or side effects.