This webinar will take place on September 24, 2026, at 11:00 am EDT. This webinar is free to all.

This webinar is Part 2 of Translational Science in Neuropathic Pain: The State of the Art.

Webinar Overview:

Understanding neuropathic pain requires approaches that bridge mechanistic discovery and clinical relevance. In this second session of the Translational Science in Neuropathic Pain webinar series, leading experts present cutting‑edge insights into how human‑based methodologies are reshaping our understanding of neuropathic pain mechanisms and opening new avenues for diagnosis and therapy.

The webinar will highlight advances in the study of human peripheral sensory neurons using complementary translational strategies. Ted Price will present landmark work from human dorsal root ganglion and peripheral nerve tissue obtained from surgeries and organ donors, demonstrating how nociceptor hyperexcitability and neuronal degeneration contribute to chronic neuropathic pain. By integrating electrophysiological, molecular, and ‑omic analyses, this work provides direct evidence from human tissue that links cellular dysfunction to clinical pain phenotypes and therapeutic targets.

Jordi Serra will focus on microneurography, a unique electrophysiological technique that enables direct recording of action potentials from peripheral nerves in awake humans. His talk will illustrate how microneurography has advanced our understanding of abnormal nociceptor activity in neuropathic pain and how it serves as a powerful translational bridge from bench to bedside, with growing relevance for the diagnosis and stratification of small fiber neuropathies and chronic pain syndromes.

Manuela Schmidt will present systems‑level approaches to translational pain research, highlighting how advanced proteomics and metaproteomics can uncover molecular pathways underlying chronic pain. Her talk will emphasize the integration of human biospecimens—including blood, stool, and dorsal root ganglia—with systems biology approaches to explore host–microbiome interactions and their relevance for pain mechanisms and therapeutic development.

Together, these presentations showcase how human‑centered experimental strategies from tissue‑based molecular profiling to in vivo nerve recordings are transforming neuropathic pain research and accelerating translation into clinically meaningful insights and treatments.

Moderators:

Angelika Lampert – Germany

Diana Tavarres - United States

Daniela Maria Menichella - United States

Patrick Dougherty - United States

Presenters:

Jordi Sierra - United States

Manuela Schmidt - Austria

Ted Price - United States

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, 8 September 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. 

Free to IASP Members; $25.00 for non-members

Webinar Overview

Pain provides an essential warning system that protects us from harm. It exists in tandem with the tactile system, that together, enable us to safely and richly experience the world and others. In intellectual and developmental disabilities these systems can be affected, disrupting that safe and nurturing physical connection with the world and others. This 60-minute webinar, hosted by the Pain in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities SIG brings together researchers investigating rodent models of these conditions. This works aims to further understanding of pain mechanisms in intellectual and developmental disabilities with the goal of improving pain management for affected individuals.

Learning Objectives:

- An appreciation of environmental and genetic rodent models of intellectual and developmental disabilities
- An understanding of behavioural phenotypes observed in these models and relation to clinical phenotype
- An understanding of mechanisms that underlie phenotypes in these models

Moderator: 

Dr Brian McGuire.

Presenters:

Dr Carole Torsney, Reader, University of Edinburgh.

Dr Michelle Roche, Reader, University of Galway.

Abstract 

This refresher course will begin with a review by Dr. Fairbanks of the major analgesic drug classes (e.g., opioids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, anticonvulsants and antidepressants), including an overview of their mechanisms  

of action, clinical applications and limitations. The remainder of the session will then focus on two rapidly evolving approaches to pharmacological pain management: subtype-selective sodium channel blockers and cannabinoids.  

Dr. Lampert will cover the basic physiology of sodium channel function, the main NaV sodium channel subtypes important for peripheral sensory neurons, what we know from genetic disease and how different subtypes convey specific function to sensory neuron subtypes. She will then address how blocking NaVs have been used in acute pain treatment for decades and why the development of the new NaV1.8 blocker Suzetrigine is so important, as it opens the avenue for a new class of therapeutics.  

Faculty List:

Dr. Starowicz-Bubak will begin with an update on our current understanding of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoid pharmacology. She will then highlight her work on the role of the endocannabinoid system in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritic joint pain. 

Dr. Busse will provide a synthesis of the current clinical evidence and share updated guidelines for the use of cannabis in chronic pain.  

Dr. Carolyn Fairbanks, Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 

Major analgesic drug classes and mechanisms of action 

Dr. Angelika Lampert, Professor, Aachen University & Director of the Institute of Neurophysiology, Aachen, Germany. 

Sodium channel blockers – what we know and where we are going 

Dr. Katarzyna Starowicz – Bubak Professor & Director, Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland 

Endogenous and exogenous cannabinoid pharmacology 

Dr. Jason Busse, Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University & Associate Director of the DeGroote Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. 

Cannabis for Chronic Pain – current evidence and guidelines. 

Overview

Animal (non-human) models of pain or pain-related outcomes are used widely to advance the science of pain and analgesia. Given the ethical and welfare implications of using non-human animals to study pain, it is imperative that scientists choose models based on a comprehensive understanding of the relative strengths and limitations of the various models in the field. It is also essential for the field of pain research to continue to strive for development of improved, more translationally valid animal models of pain-related outcomes, and to embrace new methodologies and technologies that may facilitate this. This refresher course, delivered by 7 expert speakers from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives (basic science, academia, clinical, industry) will provide a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art regarding animal models of pain-related outcomes.

Educational objectives

· Provide an overview of the variety of animal models of pain or pain-related outcomes available, with consideration of their strengths, limitations, translational relevance and validity.

· Understand tests and paradigms used to assess interactions between pain and mood.

· Appreciate how subject strain, sex and factors in the laboratory environment can influence the results of preclinical pain experiments.

· Discuss the importance of response heterogeneity and multimodal integrated longitudinal approaches for interrogating pain development

· Understand how large animal models can be employed to enrich the translational research paradigm.

· Gain insight into how animal models of pain and pain-related outcomes are used within the pharmaceutical industry.

Faculty list:

Dr. David Finn (Convener), University of Galway, Ireland

Introduction to the refresher course, and overview of animal models of pain-related outcomes

1. Introduce the refresher course and speakers

2. Provide an overview of the variety of animal models of pain-related outcomes available, with consideration of their strengths, limitations, translational relevance and validity.

3. Consider sex as a biological variable in preclinical pain studies

Dr. Michelle Roche, University of Galway, Ireland

Animal models to understand the interactions between chronic pain and mood disorders

1. Understanding what tests and paradigms have been used to assess interactions between mood and pain

2. Strengths and limitations of current paradigms

3. Considerations in choosing the paradigm and model for your research question

Dr. Esther Pogatzki-Zahn, University of Muenster, Germany

Animal models of post-surgical pain, and artificial intelligence/machine learning approaches in preclinical pain research.

1. Review the variety of animal models of post-surgical pain available, with consideration of their strengths, limitations, translational relevance and validity.

2. Consider how artificial intelligence/machine learning approaches can impact on preclinical pain research.

Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, McGill University, Canada

Issues in Algesiometry: Factors affecting preclinical pain models

1. Appreciate how decisions as to subject strain and sex can influence the results of preclinical pain experiments.

2. Appreciate how mismatches between human symptoms and rodent dependent measures can impair translation.

3. Appreciate the multitude of factors in the laboratory environment that can influence the results of preclinical pain experiments.

Dr. Kevin Keay, University of Sydney, Australia

Towards improved translational validity of animal models of pain

1. To evaluate the translational validity of neuropathic pain models

2. To compare models of cranial and post-cranial neuropathic pain

3. To discuss multimodal integrated longitudinal approaches to interrogating neuropathic pain development

4. To discuss the importance of response heterogeneity in neuropathic pain models.

Dr. B. Duncan X. Lascelles, North Carolina State University, USA

Leveraging ‘large’ animals for translational pain research

1. Discuss the pros and cons of leveraging large animals, in particular companion pet animals, for translational pain research.

2. With reference to osteoarthritis persistent pain, the opportunities for modeling the complete human pain experience will be presented and discussed.

3. Focus on validated and ‘in development’ assays that cover all the dimensions impacted by pain.

4. Discuss exciting opportunities for target and mechanism discovery using large animal biological tissues will be discussed. Delegates will leave with an understanding of how large animal models can be employed to enrich the translational research paradigm.

Dr. Carina Stenfors, Orion Pharma, Finland

Advancing analgesic discovery and development with animal models: the pharmaceutical industry perspective

1. Explain the key criteria employed within the pharmaceutical industry when selecting the most appropriate animal model(s) of pain (i.e. what factors guide the choice of model selection)

2. Describe important considerations for how animal models of pain are used within the pharmaceutical industry (i.e. experimental design, sample size, controls etc)

3. Explain the importance of assessing PK-PD relationships within the context of drug discovery and development

Abstract

Neuromodulation is a rapidly evolving field in pain medicine, offering a range of non-invasive and invasive interventions that target the nervous system to alleviate pain. This refresher course provides a comprehensive, evidence-informed overview of contemporary neuromodulation approaches for people living with pain, integrating mechanistic insights, clinical applications, and critical appraisal of the current evidence base.

The course will begin with an overview of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, including transcranial magnetic and electrical stimulation, highlighting their supposed mechanisms of action, neurological effects, and potential future developments. It will then examine invasive neuromodulation approaches, such as spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and emerging technologies, with a focus on clinical indications, patient selection, and evolving stimulation paradigms.

A central theme of the course is the critical evaluation of evidence. Faculty will explore the strengths and limitations of the current neuromodulation literature, including challenges in trial design (e.g., blinding, placebo effects, and heterogeneity), interpretation of open-label versus sham-controlled studies, and the influence of industry involvement. Attendees will be guided in interpreting findings from systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials, and real-world data, with an emphasis on identifying bias and understanding uncertainty in evidence synthesis.

Finally, the course will address future directions in neuromodulation, including precision medicine approaches, closed-loop systems, and integration into multidisciplinary pain care pathways. By combining methodological rigor with clinical relevance, this course will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to critically engage with neuromodulation research and apply evidence-based approaches in both clinical and research settings.

Educational objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate between major non-invasive and invasive neuromodulation techniques used in pain management, including their mechanisms of action and clinical indications.
• Appreciate clinical decision-making processes for neuromodulation therapies across different pain conditions.
• Critically appraise the current evidence base for neuromodulation interventions (spinal cord stimulation and non-invasive brain stimulation), with reference to key trial design challenges and methodological limitations.
• Interpret findings from systematic reviews and clinical trials in neuromodulation, identifying sources of bias, heterogeneity, and challenges in evidence synthesis.
• Discuss emerging technologies and future directions in neuromodulation.
• Apply knowledge of neuromodulation evidence to clinical or research contexts, including formulating relevant research questions or considering clinical pathways reviews.

Faculty List 

Prof Markus Ploner, TU Munich

Non-invasive neuromodulation of the brain: Current state and future directions.

Lecture content:

• Overview of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques
• The effects of neuromodulation techniques on pain
• Mechanisms of neuromodulation effects on pain
• Future directions

Dr Michael Ferraro, NeuRA, UNSW

A systematic overview of current spinal cord stimulation studies: Assessing the evidence base

Lecture content:

• Overview of the SCS evidence landscape
• What the evidence says about benefits and harms
• Challenges in clinical trials of spinal cord stimulation
• Open-label versus sham-controlled trials
• Conflicts of interest in SCS research

Dr Ganesan Baranidharan, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust / University of Leeds

Invasive neuromodulation techniques: Current state of the art, clinical trial challenges, and future directions.

Lecture content:

• Overview of established invasive neuromodulation techniques for pain management, including spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation, Multifidus muscle stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation. 
• Current clinical applications and technological advances, with emphasis on patient selection, stimulation paradigms, and outcome measures.
• Critical appraisal of the evidence base, highlighting key findings from randomised trials, registries, and real‑world data.
• Major clinical trial challenges, including issues of blinding, placebo effects, heterogeneity of patient populations, and long‑term outcome assessment.
• Future directions in invasive neuromodulation, focusing on precision medicine approaches, closed‑loop systems, improved trial design, and integration into multidisciplinary pain care.

Abstract: 

This refresher course addresses the complex challenges of identifying and managing neuropathic pain in children and youth, a population for whom evidence-based guidelines are historically lacking. By integrating translational science with the most current multidisciplinary clinical expertise and lived experience, this session provides a "bench-to-bedside" framework for care and management of neuropathic pain in pediatric populations.  

Dr. Michael Jankowski presents recent breakthroughs in glial-driven pain, specifically how Schwann cell signaling mediates mechanical hypersensitivity in neuropathic pain conditions including disorders like neurofibromatosis.  

Dr. Suellen Walker introduces multimodal assessment strategies, including screening tools, quantitative sensory testing (QST), and genetic analysis, to improve neuropathic pain classification and inform management.  

This refresher course features the perspective of Vina Mohabir who brings lived and living experience of neuropathic pain, situating assessment within the relationship between a young person and their care team — centring the outcomes that matter most to youth and families. 

Following this collaborative foundation, Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom and Dr. Giulia Mesaroli will present psychological interventions and physical strategies tailored to specific pain phenotypes. Together, this approach aims to replace the traditional "trial and error" method with precision-based interdisciplinary care that reduces polypharmacy and optimizes functional outcomes for pediatric populations. 

Educational objectives: 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the biological mechanisms and lived perspective of neuropathic pain. 
• Evaluate assessment of neuropathic pain and evidence for pharmacological management. 
• Describe the integration of psychological and physical therapy strategies into a comprehensive care plan for neuropathic pain in children and youth. 

Michael Jankowski, PhD, Department of Anesthesia, Division of Pain Management , Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center 

Title: Schwann Cells and Neuropathic Pain.

Lecture content:

This talk will discuss the fundamental role of peripheral nervous system glial cells in nerve injury related pain.   An overview of neuropathic pain will be presented along with how Schwann cells (SCs) in particular play a role in sensory modulation. Specifically, this session will highlight recent breakthroughs in how SCs release neurotrophic factors (e.g. glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, GDNF) to sensitize adjacent sensory neurons leading to pain-like behaviors.  This work will be presented in the context of the tumor predisposition syndrome, neurofibromatosis 1, where SCs are thought to be a major facilitator of neuropathic pain like phenomena.  

Suellen Walker, MD, MSc, PhD 

Title: Assessment and current evidence for management of neuropathic pain in paediatric populations. 

Lecture content:

Neuropathic pain in children can be severe and persistent, difficult to recognise and manage, and clinical presentations vary with age and the underlying condition. A multimodal approach to assessment, with evidence from clinical and research methodologies, will be discussed. Attendees will gain an understanding of a step-wise approach to the recognition and management of neuropathic pain. 

Clinical history and screening tools underpin recognition of possible neuropathic pain. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) can identify the degree, distribution and profile of sensory changes. Genetic analysis is diagnostic for some neuropathic conditions that present in childhood and can inform management. Current evidence for pharmacological management will be outlined, but is based on limited numbers of paediatric studies and extrapolation from evidence in adults. Patient-and parent-reported outcome measures and multidisciplinary assessment highlight pain-related disability and co-morbidities, and inform the multi/interdisciplinary management of chronic pain. 

Vina Mohabir, MSc, PhD Student, Health Systems Research (Health Informatics),  Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto; Patient Partner and Trainee, iOUCH Pain Lab, Child Health Evaluative Sciences, SickKids Research Institute  

Title: Nothing about us without us: lived experience and collaborative goal-setting in paediatric neuropathic pain 

Lecture content:
This talk positions the lived and living experience of neuropathic pain as central to its assessment and management. Drawing on both research and personal experience, the session considers how clinical assessment is experienced from a young person's perspective, and where formal assessment and everyday priorities diverge. Much of this divergence is relational. The therapeutic relationship, and in particular trust and the experience of being believed, shapes what a young person is willing to disclose, and consequently what an assessment is able to capture. Collaborative goal-setting is therefore foundational rather than supplementary. Meaningful treatment depends on a purpose co-developed with young people and their families. Care that overlooks this risks focusing on what is easiest to measure rather than what matters most to young people. Such partnership shifts practice from a trial-and-error approach toward care that is responsive, compassionate, respectful, and fit for a shared purpose. Attendees will gain practical strategies to elicit and act on patient-defined goals, and a stronger rationale for recognizing lived experience as a form of knowledge that sits alongside mechanistic and clinical evidence in paediatric neuropathic pain. 

_____________________________________________________________________________ 

Speaker #4. Dr. Brittany Rosenbloom 

______________________________________________________________________________ 

Dr. Giulia Mesaroli, PT, PhD, The Hospital for Sick Children 

Title: Physical strategies to manage neuropathic pain in the pediatric population 

Lecture content: This presentation will first provide an overview of the theoretical foundations and key principles that underpin physical strategies for pediatric chronic pain management. Then, participants will be introduced to a range of treatment approaches, including physical activity and exercise, sensory-based treatments, and motor imagery interventions, with discussion of their proposed mechanisms of action and role in rehabilitation. 

Building on this foundation, the session will explore the evidence and clinical application of these interventions in pediatric neuropathic pain populations. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how physical strategies can be integrated into comprehensive care plans to improve function, participation, and quality of life for children and adolescents experiencing neuropathic pain. 

Abstract

This refresher course focuses on technologies used to assess normal and altered somatosensory sensitivity and pain mechanisms, as well as neurophysiological techniques for studying central nervous system manifestations of pain. 

Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) has advanced the standardisation of somatosensory assessment in pain research since the early 2000s. QST technologies provides a structured evaluation of somatosensory function across different fibre classes and sensory modalities through patient-reported responses, capturing parameters that are difficult to assess using objective neurophysiological methods. Dr. Magerl presents the development and application of these QST techniques, now widely used in patient group studies and individual diagnostics. 

QST has largely been developed for assessing superficial structures, although manifestations of sensitisation in pain mechanisms associated with deeper tissues are of considerable clinical importance. Dr. Graven-Nielsen introduces the assessment of pain sensitivity, temporal summation of pain, and conditioned pain modulation relevant to deep tissues (e.g. muscle), as well as pain referral. 

Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) has emerged as a valuable tool for investigating the neural mechanisms underlying pain and chronic pain conditions. Capturing spontaneous brain activity without experimental stimulation, resting-state EEG provides insights into altered brain function, network dynamics, and potential pain biomarkers. Dr. Ploner presents the rationale for using resting-state EEG in pain research, outline common methodological approaches, summarise key findings, and discuss current challenges and future directions for its clinical and research use. 

Complementing the resting-state EEG session, Dr. Mouraux introduces event-related potentials (ERPs) recorded with non-invasive EEG to characterise nociceptive processing and its modulation in healthy individuals and clinical populations. This lecture will guide participants through the methodological requirements for recording brain responses to sensory stimuli and the available stimulation modalities, including infrared laser, contact heat and cold, and mechanical pinprick stimulation. The lecture discusses interpretation of responses, highlighting key limitations and pitfalls, and concludes with emerging approaches to distinguish EEG activity linked to sustained versus transient nociceptive input. 

Dr. Moayedi will cover the basic principles of structural and functional neuroimaging, focusing on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Specifically, the lecture will summarise key findings from MRI studies relevant to pain and related conditions. The session will highlight how neuroimaging has advanced understanding of brain pain mechanisms in health and disease. It will also provide an overview of their strengths and current limitations in research and clinical contexts.  

Educational objectives 

• To provide an understanding of somatosensory function and neurophysiologically informed assessment using QST. 
• To introduce the assessment of pain sensitivity, temporal summation, conditioned pain modulation, and pain referral in deep tissues using QST-based approaches. 
• To develop an understanding of the potential of resting-state EEG for investigating pain mechanisms, as well as its key methodological and interpretative challenges. 
• To understand the potential and limitations of event-related brain potentials in human pain research and to gain knowledge of their implementation and analytical tools required. 
• To understand the principles, applications, strengths, and limitations of structural and functional MRI in pain research. 

Faculty List  

Walter Magerl (Department of Neurophysiology, Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.) 

Quantitative Sensory Testing: Methods and Interpretations.

Thomas Graven-Nielsen (Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark) 

Deep-tissue Quantitative Sensory Testing: Methods and Interpretations

Markus Ploner (Center for Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany) 

Resting-state Electroencephalography in Pain Research: Methods and Interpretations.

André Mouraux (Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS), UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium) 

Evoked Brain Potentials in Pain Research: Methods and Interpretations. 

Massieh Moayedi (Centre for Multimodal Sensorimotor and Pain Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada)

Pain NeuroImaging with MRI: Methods and Interpretations.

Abstract:

Chronic pain is complex and effective treatment is a formidable challenge for both patients and clinicians. Promoting successful self-management and returning to valued life activities are often key goals of treatment, but facilitating this trajectory in patients with long-standing pain can be difficult. Indeed, pain is inherently a psychosocial experience, yet many clinicians feel under-equipped to integrate relevant (and necessary) psychological principles and behavioural components into their care.

In this course, you will hear from field-leaders whose research sits at the forefront of psychologically informed care. Targeting both clinicians and researchers, this course aims to provide the latest knowledge across a spectrum of psychologically informed interventions, paired with real-world strategies to embed these principles into clinical practice.

The overall goal is to upskill attendees in the use of psychologically informed care for chronic pain by improving the understanding and application of relevant psychological principles in communication and treatment.

Educational Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• To understand the principles of cognitive functional therapy as a person-centred behavioral approach, explore its clinical application for people presenting with chronic low back pain, and the CFT training pathway available for clinicians.
• To understand the emerging theory of ‘mindsets’ in health, including novel mindset interventions and how they can be applied in clinical practice
• To appreciate the importance of patient validation and come away with new strategies that can be implemented in the clinical setting with people who have chronic pain.
• To enable participants to more adequately identify targets for treatment that enable more successful and vital living with the ongoing experience of chronic pain, including the direct application of interventions to augment willingness to experience chronic pain in the service of engagement in personally meaningful action, and present-focused awareness to enable such actions to occur.

Faculty List

JP Caneiro, BScPhysio, MSportPhysio, PhD, FACP – Specialist Physiotherapist; Adjunct Senior Clinical Research Fellow, School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Western Australia; co-Director, Evoolve Pain Care Academy, Western Australia

Cognitive Functional Therapy Unpacked: Principles, Practice, and Training Pathway.

Lecture content: 

Chronic disabling low back pain remains a major clinical challenge, with biomedical approaches often failing to address its multidimensional nature. Despite endorsement of biopsychosocial models, physiotherapists frequently report limited confidence in managing psychosocial contributors to pain. Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT), a person-centred behavioural approach, has demonstrated superior and sustained outcomes in pain, disability, and self-efficacy compared to usual care, as evidenced by the RESTORE trial published in The Lancet. Supported by structured, competency-based training, CFT enables clinicians to develop the skills required for effective, individualized care. This presentation explores the principles, clinical application, and training pathway of CFT, alongside initiatives to improve global access to high-quality clinician education.

Lauren Heathcote, PhD, Reader in Health Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, UK.

 Mindsets Matter: Leveraging Patient Beliefs to Improve Pain and Health

Lecture content: 

Beliefs about the body, illness, and recovery are not just reflections of health; they actively shape it. Emerging research on mindsets – core beliefs or assumptions about domains like the body, illness, or pain – offers a powerful framework for understanding how these beliefs influence pain and health outcomes. In this talk, Lauren will introduce contemporary theory and evidence on mindsets, highlighting how patients’ beliefs about their bodies and illnesses can alter physiological, behavioural, and psychological processes relevant to pain. She will focus on specific mindsets that appear particularly influential in chronic pain and illness, including beliefs about bodily capacity, symptom meaning, and recovery potential. Finally, she will present novel, scalable mindset interventions that are demonstrating promising effects on pain, functioning, and wellbeing across clinical populations. The session will conclude with practical guidance for integrating mindset-informed approaches into clinical care to enhance patient outcomes.

Sarah Wallwork, PhD, B.Physio(Hons) – Senior Research Fellow, IIMPACT in Health, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide University, Australia

 “I Hear You, I See You, I Believe You”: The power of patient validation

Abstract: People with chronic pain regularly report pain dismissal, disbelief, and invalidation from healthcare professionals, having a negative impact on their health and mental and emotional wellbeing. In this presentation, Sarah will talk about how clinicians, including those from non-psychological disciplines, can intentionally use validating communication to improve outcomes for their patients. She will draw on the biosocial theory of emotion regulation to discuss how validating communication can increase therapeutic rapport, treatment adherence, and overall health outcomes while invalidating communication can lead to mistrust, emotion dysregulation, and poor mental health. Specific strategies and examples will be provided.

Kevin Vowles, PhD - Professor of Clinical Psychology, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast and Belfast Centre for Pain Rehabilitation, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Willingness, Awareness, and Meaningful Action in Response to Chronic Pain.

Lecture content: Chronic pain is a profound source of human suffering and disability. Robust evidence shows that when individuals with chronic pain let go of the struggle for pain control, cultivate openness and curiosity to present-moment experiences, and commit to values-driven actions, they experience less suffering and improved functioning – even while pain persists. These processes - acceptance/willingness, present-focused awareness, and values-based action - are the cornerstones of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a well-established behavioral intervention for chronic pain. This presentation will outline the ACT model, including its intervention goals, therapeutic methods, and key clinical considerations. A central tenet of ACT is that a rich, meaningful, and fulfilling life is possible without relentless pursuit of pain reduction, relief, or management. This perspective offers both hope and liberation not only for those living with chronic pain, but also for treatment providers.

Abstract 
Musculoskeletal pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and contemporary research continues to advance our understanding of how physical rehabilitation and exercise interventions can improve outcomes. This on-demand IASP Refresher Course brings together international experts to provide an integrated, state-of-the-art update on the evidence, mechanisms, and modifiers of exercise-based care for musculoskeletal pain. 

The course opens with focused syntheses of the current evidence base for physical rehabilitation and exercise in two of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions: low back pain (Dr Caitlin Jones) and neck pain (Dr Chris Papic). These sessions provide a concise, practice-relevant overview of best-available evidence and its implications for clinical decision-making. 

Building on this clinical foundation, the course then examines the mechanisms of exercise-induced pain and analgesia. Prof Kathleen Sluka presents the latest insights from animal models, illuminating neurophysiological and immunological pathways that underpin both exacerbation and relief of pain with exercise. Complementing this, Dr Giovanni Berardi offers a human-focused perspective, highlighting how exercise influences nociception, central pain modulation, and sensory processing in people with and without musculoskeletal pain. 

Finally, Dr Aidan Cashin explores the emerging science of mediators and moderators of treatment response, identifying the factors that shape who benefits from exercise, how, and under what conditions. This session emphasises the importance of personalised, mechanism-informed rehabilitation strategies. 

Designed for clinicians, researchers, and trainees, this flexible online course provides a comprehensive, accessible update on exercise-based rehabilitation—linking evidence, mechanisms, and individual differences to support more effective and patient-centred musculoskeletal pain care. 

Faculty list:

Dr. Caitlin Jones, The University of Sydney, Australia 

Contemporary evidence base for physical rehabilitation and exercise for common musculoskeletal conditions – Low Back Pain 

Dr. Chris Papic, The University of Qld, Australia

Contemporary evidence base for physical rehabilitation and exercise for common musculoskeletal conditions – Neck Pain  

Prof. Kathleen Sluka, University of Iowa, USA 

Exercise-induced pain and analgesia mechanisms – results of animal studies  

Dr. Giovanni Berardi, University of Iowa, USA 

Exercise-induced pain and analgesia mechanisms – results of human studies. 

Dr. Aidan Cashin, University of New South Wales, Australia  

Mediators and moderators of the effects of exercise for musculoskeletal pain. 

Abstract

Effective communication stands as a central component of pain management, spanning the spectrum from clinical encounters to patient engagement in research and broader public education. This refresher course addresses three interconnected domains where communication skills directly influence outcomes in pain care. 

This session brings together expertise from clinical practice, research methodology, and digital health communication to provide practical guidance for professionals working in pain medicine. The workshop explores how different communication contexts require distinct approaches while maintaining core principles of clarity, respect, and patient-centered dialogue. 

Structure and Content 

About the media: a how-to approach to communication with patients via digital media, “do´s, dont´s and  must´s” 

The session begins with an examination of science communication through social media platforms. Andrea Furlan, whose work at the University of Toronto gained recognition through her extensive patient education efforts on chronic pain, will share practical insights on digital engagement. Her experience demonstrates how online platforms can bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and patient understanding. The session will address platform selection, content development, audience engagement strategies, and common pitfalls in digital health communication. 

The different flavours of patient participation in research: form design to publicaiton 

The second section focuses on patient participation in research frameworks. Drawing from work by David Walsh's team and presentations by Vasileios Georgopoulos, this segment examines current models for involving patients in research processes. The discussion will cover various participation frameworks, their implementation in pain research contexts, and the practical challenges researchers face when integrating patient perspectives. Participants will gain understanding of successful approaches and the conditions that support meaningful patient involvement. 

Effective communication in clinical practice: meeting patient´s needs and expectations with clinicians’ possibilities 

The final portion addresses communication within clinical consultations. Representatives from FAKS, a Danish patient organization for chronic pain, will present alongside a multidisciplinary group of practicing clinicians to explore the realities of patient-clinician dialogue (Daniel Forte, Palliative care specialist, Geana Kurita (nurse), XX Physiotherapist, YY, psychologist. After a presentation from Daniel Forte, patients and the groups of clinicians will discuss language choices, framing techniques, and the impact of specific communication approaches on patient experience and treatment adherence. This diverse perspective allows for exploration of how the same clinical interaction may be perceived differently by providers and patients. 

Educational Objectives

This workshop serves clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals involved in pain management who seek to strengthen their communication practices across professional settings. Participants will develop practical skills in three communication domains relevant to pain care. They will understand the opportunities and limitations of social media for patient education, recognize established frameworks for patient involvement in research, and refine their approach to clinical conversations with attention to patient perspectives. 

Faculty list with each individual talk title: 

Presentation 1: Daniel Neves Forte, MD, PhD 

The hierarchy of communication needs – a novel communication strategy rooted in neurobiology developed in a Brazilian COVID-ICU and high mistrust setting 

Presentation 2: Iben Rohde, president and Lars Bye Møller, Specialist, FAKS – The association of people afflicted by chronic pain in Denmark 

Patients’ perspective of a good communication in the clinic, in social media, in research communication, what is missing and what can be improved 

3: Andrea Furlan, MD, PhD 

Communicating with patients via digital media: Do’s, Don’ts and musts’ 

4: Judith Paice, PhD, RN, FAAN, FASCO 

Tell me more: Communicating with patients, families, and teams 

5: Vasileios Georgopoulos, PhD 

Implementation and evaluation of structured patient and public involvement frameworks in the United Kingdom