Must-Read Article of the Month

July 2025

A Call for Reckoning and Reform in Interventional Pain Medicine and Neuromodulation Research

"This is a controversial, must-read editorial piece that provides an introspective analysis of the current challenges facing clinical research in interventional pain medicine and neuromodulation. Therefore, it is essential reading for all practitioners, particularly early-career physicians, fellows, and residents. The authors critically examine the pervasive influence of industry on research, highlighting how study designs are often manipulated to favor commercial interests and result in predictable outcomes or overestimations of therapeutic benefits. Furthermore, the piece addresses the complexities of interpreting marketing language and calls for a heightened awareness of significant alterations in study design. A key takeaway for future physician researchers, this article proposes valuable research ideas, offering specific examples of study design improvements and posing higher-level questions for investigation. In conclusion, it champions the core principles of patient-centered care, the pursuit of more significant and longer-term outcomes, and a commitment to evidence-based practices over profit-driven narratives."

- Robin Mata, DO MPH.