At least 20% of the UK population suffer from clinically significant chronic pain, making it almost unparalleled in its clinical and socioeconomic impact. The problem is amplified by the lack of currently available solutions. However, recent advances in our understanding of the brain mechanisms of chronic pain have created an enormous but untapped opportunity for neurotechnology, with the capacity to completely transform the clinical landscape. Realising this capacity depends critically on creating a technological and clinical infrastructure that brings together interdisciplinary expertise, an understanding of the different chronic pain conditions, and expertise in different technological tools. The backbone of much of this approach can be provided by virtual reality (VR, AR and XR), seeding enormous potential capacity for healthcare impact.

This workshop is supported by our broader objectives to support technological applications to the study and treatment of pain. This was initially founded in 2018 as a researcher network linking UK and Japanese researchers to create a network devoted to understanding ‘pain, action and movement’, and supported by Versus Arthritis (in the UK) and the Center for Information and Neural Networks (in Japan). In 2022, we received generous support from UKRI (EPSRC and MRC) to create a new UK Network Plus for developing Responsibility Neurotechnology for Chronic Pain (the Chronic Pain Neurotechnology Network+). This provides critical key funding to support a range of activities, especially around capacity building, framework development, engagement and feasibility studies.

Contact us: paladmin@ndcn.ox.ac.uk