Doctoral Candidate
Trial Manager
02 9399 1049
Michael Ferraro is a clinical researcher and trial manager for the MEMOIR clinical trial. He is member of the Centre for Pain IMPACT, led by Professor James McAuley. Michael’s research is centred around the identification, development and evaluation of treatments for chronic pain. He is also interested in prognosis research and the use of prognostic models, which combine multiple patient characteristics to provide individualised risk predictions.
Michael frequently reviews for prestigious specialty pain journals and his research has been presented at premier conferences both nationally and internationally.
In the MEMOIR trial, Michael will be investigating the efficacy and effectiveness of two novel treatments for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
You can follow Michael’s research below and here: Google Scholar and ORCID.
To learn more about MEMOIR please visit our new website memoir.neura.edu.au
Medicines are the most common treatment for back pain. The aim of this program of research is to improve our understanding of the clinical effects of medicines.
Studies currently in progress:
Completed studies:
Medicines for Back Pain – Publications:
Medicines for Back Pain – Registrations of Study Protocols:
YANNICK GILANYI Research Associate : y.gilanyi@neura.edu.au
BRISHNA SHAH Research Associate : b.shah@neura.edu.au
JACK DEVONSHIRE Honours Student : j.devonshire@neura.edu.au
HARRISON HANSFORD Honours Student : h.hansford@neura.edu.au
THIAGO FOLLY Research Assistant
ANIKA HAIGH Research Assistant : a.haigh@neura.edu.au
PAULINE ZAHARA Clinical Trial Manager
DR IAN SKINNER Postdoctoral Research Fellow
The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of medicines targeting neurotrophins in patients with LBP and sciatica. This systematic review and meta-analysis will assess the evidence for the efficacy and safety of NGF inhibitors for pain in patients with nonspecific LBP and sciatica. The inclusion of new studies and unpublished data may improve the precision of the effect estimates and guide regulatory actions of the medications for LBP and sciatica.
Treatment of LBP with antidepressants is associated with small reductions in pain intensity and increased odds of stopping treatment for any reason, compared to placebo. The effect on pain is not clinically important. The effect on acceptability warrants consideration. These findings provide Level I evidence to guide clinicians in their use of antidepressants to treat LBP.