Irish Pain Society’s 25th Annual Scientific Meeting – Patient Voices at the Heart of Pain Research
On Saturday, 18th October, Chronic Pain Ireland was honoured to attend the Irish Pain Society’s 25th Annual Scientific Meeting, held at the University of Galway. This milestone event brought together leading national and international experts in pain research, education, and clinical practice – all dedicated to advancing pain management, research, and education – particularly in low and middle-income settings. It was a wonderful opportunity to network and speak with so many people across the sector.
Highlights included:
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Welcome and opening address by Dr. Michelle Roche (University of Galway and IPS President) and Prof. David Burn (President, University of Galway).
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Plenary talk by Prof. Luis Garcia-Larrea (Lyon Neuroscience Centre, France; President of the European Pain Federation EFIC) on Cortical stimulation for chronic pain: From anecdote to evidence.
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Presentations from national and international speakers across nursing, psychology, physiotherapy, pain medicine, and basic science, including Prof. Kevin Vowles (Queen’s University Belfast), Dr. Nadja Nestler (Paracelsus Medical University, Germany), Prof. Harriet Wittink (HU University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands), and Prof. Jeffrey Mogil (McGill University, Canada).
Chronic Pain Ireland Board member, Niamh Walsh, contributed as a panelist in the Trauma-Informed Pain Care session alongside clinicians and researchers, sharing lived experience of chronic pain. This session highlighted patient-centred approaches, interdisciplinary teamwork, and the importance of integrating lived experience into clinical practice and education.
Having the patient perspective included in discussions like this is vital. Research and clinical advances are most impactful when they reflect the lived realities of people managing chronic pain every day. Events like this strengthen the bridge between patients, researchers, and healthcare professionals, helping to ensure that future policy, education, and care models are informed by real-world experience.
The meeting also showcased an impressive range of research poster presentations, where many Chronic Pain Ireland members had contributed to by way of surveys, workshops and in-person interviews. This event highlights the depth and diversity of research being carried out across Ireland, from new approaches to pain education to innovative treatments and community-based initiatives. These will also be presented at EFIC shortly.
We’d like to thank the Irish Pain Society for their invitation and for recognising the importance of collaboration between professionals and those with lived experience. At Chronic Pain Ireland, we remain deeply committed to amplifying the patient voice, ensuring that people living with chronic pain are not only supported, but also heard, understood, and actively involved in shaping the future of pain care.
Chronic Pain Ireland joined the Irish Pain Society’s 25th Annual Scientific Meeting in Galway, amplifying patient voices in pain research.
