David Hohenschurz-Schmidt, PhD, is the recipient of the Ronald Dubner Research Prize. This prize honors the best clinical or basic science research paper, series of papers or doctoral thesis in the field of pain that were published or in press while the candidate is in training as a student, intern, resident, pre-doctoral fellow, post-doctoral fellow, or equivalent. Dr Hohenschurz-Schmidt’s current research focuses on intervention development and feasibility testing for people living with painful diabetic neuropathy.
Dr David Hohenschurz-Schmidt’s notable contributions have significantly advanced both pain research and clinical trial methodologies, especially in the field of physical and psychological interventions. Currently working as an Associate Researcher at the Imperial College Pain Research Group of Professor Andrew Rice in London, UK, David works on topics such as research methods and integrity, digital therapeutics, and placebo effects. Additionally, he holds the position of Senior Research Fellow at the University College of Osteopathy (UCO).
In 2023, David successfully completed his PhD at Imperial College London, having previously earned Master’s degrees in Osteopathy from UCO in 2014 and Neuroscience from King’s College London in 2018, both with distinction.
During his PhD, David focused on enhancing clinical trial designs for non-pharmacological pain therapies, with a particular emphasis on control interventions and real-world applicability. He led several systematic reviews, in the process also guiding junior colleagues and clinicians in developing their research profiles. Most notably, David’s PhD research was characterized by two large international collaborations with stakeholders from the clinical trials and placebo field, as well as with the Initiative on Methods, Measurement, and Pain Assessment in Clinical Trials (IMMPACT). A standout achievement of David’s PhD project is the CoPPS Statement, published in The BMJ in 2023. This evidence-based consensus guideline provides recommendations for the design, implementation, and reporting of (‘sham’) control interventions in clinical trials of physical, psychological, and self-management therapies. Overcoming the longstanding challenge of establishing adequate control interventions to manage placebo effects and ensure participant blinding, the CoPPS Statement’s development underscored methodological rigor and earned immediate endorsement by the EQUATOR network library of reporting guidelines.
In addition to CoPPS, David’s leadership within the IMMPACT initiative culminated in a two-part guidance framework for pragmatic trials in pain research, both published in PAIN. His adept negotiation with diverse stakeholder groups is hoped to inject new energy into the field of pragmatic trials, offering invaluable guidance for future research endeavors.
Currently, David’s research pursuits are centered on intervention development and feasibility testing for individuals with painful diabetic neuropathy. Collaborating with clinical stakeholders, patient partners, and a multidisciplinary team of research experts, David aims to continue his trajectory toward high-quality clinical research that enhances patients’ lives and addresses pressing healthcare challenges.
Beyond his research endeavors, David maintains a clinical practice as an osteopath, specializing in musculoskeletal and persistent pain. He actively engages with various professional organizations, serving as a committee member of the Society for Back Pain Research and contributing to the IASP 2023 Global Year Task Force on integrative pain care.