Pain Exchange

Behind the 2026 WCP Scientific Program with Kirsty Bannister

Bringing together more than 5,000 pain professionals, the IASP World Congress on Pain will be held this coming October in the vibrant city of Bangkok, Thailand. The event is the largest gathering of pain professionals in the world, hosting scientists, clinicians, healthcare providers, and advocates across disciplines to discuss the cutting edge of pain science. Ranging from plenary lectures to topical workshops to refresher courses and poster sessions, the event is sure to have something to offer any professional interested in pain. Embarking on the difficult task of compiling a scientific program combining all of these varied interests, our guest for this episode is none other than Dr. Kirsty Bannister (Imperial College London), the chair of the Scientific Program Committee. In this episode, Kirsty speaks with us about her new policy for speaker institutions, repeated speakers, and her focus on encouraging perspectives from a wide range of career levels. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of IASP. This episode was produced by Peter DelGobbo, who also composed the theme music. Additional Resources WCP 2026 Full Scientific Program - https://bit.ly/42WDfms [https://bit.ly/42WDfms]

Meet the 2026 IASP President-Elect with Mary Cardosa

Every two years, at the World Congress on Pain, IASP welcomes a new organization President, elected by our members. This year, we are excited to welcome in Dr. Mary Sum Cardosa, a consultant pain specialist who has served for more than 30 years in the Ministry of Health in Malaysia, to fill this role. In this episode of Pain Exchange, our host Dr. Renee Chasse speaks with Mary about her many accomplishments in pain management and care, as well as her passion for IASP and her plans for the IASP presidency. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of IASP. This episode was produced by Peter DelGobbo, who also composed the theme music. Additional Resources Multidisciplinary Pain Center Toolkit https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/toolkits/pain-management-center/ [https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/toolkits/pain-management-center/]

Artificial Intelligence in Pain Management with Joletta Belton and Daniel Buchman

This past year, the availability of artificial intelligence technology within the healthcare industry has increased exponentially, and the field of pain is certainly feeling its effects. In this episode of Pain Exchange, our host Dr. Renee Chasse speaks with bioethicist, Dr. Daniel Buchman, and dedicated patient advocate, Joletta Belton, about various ways artificial intelligence is making an impact on the field of pain research and management, as well as potential pitfalls to look out for while exploring this new technology. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of IASP. This episode was produced by Peter DelGobbo, who also composed the theme music. Additional Resources Belton and Darlow: "Do We Trust Patients in Pain? What Would Happen If We Did?" https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2025.13725 [https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2025.13725] Buchman: "AI and the ethics of techno-solutionism in pain management" https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003389 [https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003389] Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health. Guidance on large multi-modal models. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/375579/9789240084759-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y [https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/375579/9789240084759-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y] Katz, Graham, and Buchman: "The need for epistemic humility in AI-assisted pain assessment" https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-025-10264-9 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-025-10264-9] Valor: The AI Mirror: How to Reclaim Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ai-mirror-9780197759066 [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ai-mirror-9780197759066]

An Introduction to the 2026 Global Year on Neuropathic Pain with Andrew Rice, Angelika Lampert, and Neil O'Connell

Every year, the International Association for the Study of Pain chooses a particular aspect of pain to bring awareness to, in the form of a Global Year campaign. In 2026, the association's current president, Dr. Andrew Rice, has chosen the field of neuropathic pain. In this episode of Pain Exchange, our host Dr. Renee Chasse speaks with Dr. Rice, as well as Global Year co-chairs, Drs. Angelika Lampert (Germany) and Neil O'Connell (United Kingdom) about the goals of the campaign, provide a general overview of neuropathic pain, and discuss the challenges currently facing the field today. Use #GlobalYear2026 on LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram to be part of the conversation. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of IASP. This episode was produced by Peter DelGobbo, who also composed the theme music. Additional Resources * Andrew Rice: https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/a.rice [https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/a.rice] * Angelika Lampert: https://www.ukaachen.de/en/clinics-institutes/institute-of-physiology/research/lampert-lab/lab-members/prof-angelika-lampert-1/ [https://www.ukaachen.de/en/clinics-institutes/institute-of-physiology/research/lampert-lab/lab-members/prof-angelika-lampert-1/] * Neil O'Connell: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/neil-oconnell [https://www.brunel.ac.uk/people/neil-oconnell] * IASP 2026 Global Year Homepage: https://www.iasp-pain.org/advocacy/global-year/neuropathic-pain-2026/ [https://www.iasp-pain.org/advocacy/global-year/neuropathic-pain-2026/] * Soliman at al. (2025): "Pharmacotherapy and non-invasive neuromodulation for neuropathic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis". https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(25)00068-7 [https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(25)00068-7] * Neuropathic Pain SIG (NeuPSIG): https://www.iasp-pain.org/membership/special-interest-groups-sigs/neuropathic-pain-neupsig/ [https://www.iasp-pain.org/membership/special-interest-groups-sigs/neuropathic-pain-neupsig/] * Methodology, Evidence Synthesis, and Implementation SIG (MESISIG): https://www.iasp-pain.org/membership/special-interest-groups-sigs/methodology-evidence-synthesis-and-implementation-mesisig/ [https://www.iasp-pain.org/membership/special-interest-groups-sigs/methodology-evidence-synthesis-and-implementation-mesisig/] * The Cochrane Collaboration Pain, Palliative Care and Supportive Care Collaborative Review Group: https://doi.org/10.1080/j354v16n02_07 [https://doi.org/10.1080/j354v16n02_07] * 2026 World Congress on Pain Plenary Speakers: https://worldcongressonpain.secure-platform.com/a/page/Programing/plenary-speakers [https://worldcongressonpain.secure-platform.com/a/page/Programing/plenary-speakers] * PAIN 2026 Global Year Collection: https://journals.lww.com/pain/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=29 [https://journals.lww.com/pain/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionId=29] * PAIN Reports 2026 Global Year Collection: https://journals.lww.com/painrpts/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionID=31 [https://journals.lww.com/painrpts/pages/collectiondetails.aspx?TopicalCollectionID=31] * 2026 World Congress Global Year Symposia: https://worldcongressonpain.secure-platform.com/a/page/Registration-root/Pre-Congress/SIG-Symposia-Sessions#sig5 [https://worldcongressonpain.secure-platform.com/a/page/Registration-root/Pre-Congress/SIG-Symposia-Sessions#sig5] * Smart, Gylfadottir, and Fundaun: "An Overview of Neuropathic Pain and Its Impact" https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/fact-sheets/an-overview-of-neuropathic-pain-and-its-impact/ [https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/fact-sheets/an-overview-of-neuropathic-pain-and-its-impact/] * 2026 Global Year Webinars: https://perc.iasp-pain.org/2026-global-year [https://perc.iasp-pain.org/2026-global-year]

SIG Spotlight: Pain, Mind, and Movement with Anabela Silva and Felipe Reis

As a global organization serving many different types of pain professionals, IASP strives to help its members build community. IASP Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are networks of members dedicated to specific topics or interests within the study of pain. Through 24 SIGs members share experiences, discussions, and developments that directly impact their practice or research. In this episode of Pain Exchange, our host Dr. Renee Chasse speaks with two of the leaders of IASP's Pain, Mind, and Movement SIG: Drs. Anabela Silva (Portugal) and Felipe Reis (Brazil). In their wide-ranging conversation, the three discuss the reciprocal relationship between physical movement and mental processes, how pain professionals can incorporate their patients' thoughts about their pain into treatment plans, and how the SIG is working to help achieve those goals. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of IASP. This episode was produced by Peter DelGobbo, who also composed the theme music.