From receptors to perceptions

The multiple approaches to understanding pain

This symposium brings together pain researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds and experience to promote extensive knowledge exchange, networking opportunities, and the potential for developing new collaborations. It will highlight and discuss the latest research in pain science from a diverse set of perspectives that include clinical applications, big data neuroscientific investigations, and mechanistic neuroimaging findings. The symposium will be built on a foundation of multi-faceted integrative approaches, combining across multiple levels of investigation, to tackle a complex and multi-faceted challenge.

One of the more well-worn analogies for pain experimentation paints the picture of an elephant, with a host of blinkered scientists scouring all over in minute inspection. One scientist triumphantly deduces they are examining a medieval spear, while fondling a tusk. Another confidently nominates the rear leg to be a tree trunk. The less said about the scientist at the animal's trunk the better. Pain scientists are aware that we are always treading this same balance as a community.

The indicators for required change, and improvement, are clear and unequivocal. The successful translation of drugs from animal experimentation to human clinical trials discontentedly hovering near single-figures. Clinical interventions robustly aiding a third of our patients, while 2/3rds are left to ponder "what is wrong with them?". Cultural and traditional biomedical approaches limiting our perspectives to pathology in isolation. A global community passionately obsessed with neuroscientific mechanisms, but paralysed by fear or uncertainty in the pursuit of working together.

Reading Emotions 2026 will be focused on all things pain, joined by a wealth of world-leading experts, across a range of disciplines, approaches and philosophies. Many cooks only spoil the broth if the express intention was for only 1 person to lead the process. Join us at the University of Reading to explore a new approach, with an open, accepting and varied intellectual environment by design.

Keynote lectures will examine central themes and latest developments in theory, methods, and application.

Early career researchers and local experts will present ongoing work and key relevant methods in short talks.

Discussions will be healthily encouraged with protected time to ensure active engagement, rather than passive reception

The pursuit of dynamic variety in subject, from the clinic to the basic science laboratory. From transgender experiences of surgery, to the importance of communication. No subject is out of perspective, as long as pain is the central tenant.

Confirmed speakers include:

Etienne Vachon-Presseau

McGill University, Canada

Katy Vincent

Oxford University, UK

Jonathan Brooks

University of Liverpool, UK

Jan Vollert

University of Exeter, UK

Whitney Scott

Kings College London, UK

Sigrid Elsenbruch