Schedule

Registration 1.30 p.m. – 2.15 p.m.

Under the surface of neuropathic pain: what can 'Big Data' and deep phenotyping tell us?

Prof David Bennett, University of Oxford: "Big data and neuropathic pain"

Prof Annina Schmid, University of Oxford: "Deep phenotyping: opportunities for pain research and clinical applications" 

This session explores the transformative potential of 'Big Data' in understanding pain mechanisms and the ground-breaking opportunities that a comprehensive assessment offers for pain research and clinical practice. Discover how these advanced approaches are reshaping our understanding and treatment of neuropathic pain conditions such as diabetic painful peripheral neuropathy.

Chronic pain and opioids - what's the problem?

Dr Louise Sell, Greater Manchester:  "Overuse of prescription opioids - through the lens of opioid dependence"  

Dr Jane Quinlan, University of Oxford: "Weaning opioids in patients with chronic pain"

The overuse of prescription opioids for pain is an issue of global concern. In this session, we will look at this challenge from the perspective of addiction research before we will hear about ways in which patients can be supported to reduce their opioid use.  

Tailoring recovery: the art and science of personalised rehabilitation

Prof Helen Dawes, University of Exeter: "Pain and activity interrelationships: EMA sensor technology potential for use in the management of pain"

Dr Jackie Walumbe, University of Oxford: "Moving in, with and through pain" 

Physical rehabilitation is a key component of many pain management programmes – and tailoring it to the needs of the individual patient offers new and exciting opportunities to optimise treatment outcomes. This session will provide an overview of novel approaches to rehabilitation and their application in clinical practice. 

Coffee break 4.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. 

The journey through chronic pain: the patient perspective - Part 1

Nicola Warrick & Amanda Wall (Oxford)

Pain research crucially depends on the voice of the patients. In this session, we will hear from people with lived experience about how pain is affecting their lives, what they hope for – and what doesn’t work for them. 

Touch, trust and pain: the social connection

Prof Rebeccah Slater, University of Oxford: "Preventing pain through gentle touch"  

Prof Merle Fairhurst, University of Dresden, Germany: "Touch in medicine and touch as medicine" 

Touch is known to relieve pain – but its role in modern treatment approaches has diminished over the years. In this session, we will hear about the importance and neural basis of touch in neonatal pain perception and how touch might be used in medicine and as medicine. 

Break 5.30 p.m. – 6.00 p.m.

Dinner at Deneke Dining Hall, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford 7 p.m.–late

Registration 8.30 a.m.–9 a.m.

Virtual Reality (VR): a new frontier for understanding and treating chronic pain?

Pranav Mahajan, University of Oxford: "A Virtual Reality approach to studying uncertainty and avoidance in human decision-making"

Shuangyi Tong, University of Oxford: "Studying real-life pain problems in controlled lab environments with a dedicated Virtual Reality setup"

The use of Virtual Reality to investigate what causes pain and how it can be treated is still new but has already sparked interest across professions. In this session, we will learn how VR could be used in research and how it can help to study real-life pain problems. 

Neural pathways: the role of neuromodulation in pain management 

Prof Alex Green, University of Oxford: "Deep brain stimulation for pain: past, present and future"

Dr Scott Lempka, University of Michigan: "Advancing pain relief: the journey and future of spinal cord stimulation"

This session will take you through the evolution of deep brain and spinal cord stimulation, from its historical roots to its current applications and future potential for pain management. Gain a deeper understanding of how this innovative technique is revolutionising the way we approach and treat complex pain conditions.

Coffee break 10.30 a.m. – 11.00 a.m.

Bridging the gap: immune system insights into pain

Prof Shafaq Sikander, Queen Mary University London: "Immunological basis of chronic widespread pain"

Prof John Dawes, University of Oxford: "Using patient antibodies to better understand pain mechanisms"

This session explores the intriguing connection between the immune system and pain. We will offer new perspectives on how immune system dynamics can influence pain mechanisms. This rapidly evolving area of research holds significant implications for both understanding and treating various pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia.

AI, patient-reported outcome - or both?

Dr Samantha Cruz Rivera, University of Birmingham: "Patient-reported outcomes - more than just a simple rating" 

Dr Temitayo Olugbade, University of Sussex: "Assessment of pain experience and behaviour for chronic pain physical rehabilitation using sensors and AI"

Patient-reported outcome has long been considered the ‘gold standard’ of pain assessment – but artificial intelligence (AI) has recently caught up. We will learn that patient-reported outcome can be more than a simple rating, and what new insights AI really has to offer. 

The bigger picture: flourishing, social prescribing, and pain

Prof Willem Kuyken, University of Oxford: "Flourishing: from theory to practice"

Dr Stephanie Tierney, University of Oxford: "Social prescribing and its potential role in supporting people with chronic pain"

Is flourishing possible during a chronic illness? In this session, we will learn about the science of flourishing, what flourishing can mean in the context of chronic pain and how the emerging field of social prescribing can help patients overcome the challenges of chronic pain.  

Lunch 12.30 p.m. – 1.30 p.m.

The placebo effect: how can we understand and harness its potential?

Prof Karin Jensen, Karolinska Institut, Sweden: "Placebo effects and unconscious expectations"

Prof Felicity Bishop, University of Southampton: "Harnessing placebo effects in clinical practice: the importance of patient and clinician perspectives"

The fact that a sugar pill can reduce pain when we believe that the pill contains an a painkiller has opened up new opportunities to enhance conventional treatment approaches with the power of placebos. In this session, we will hear about the influence of unconscious expectations and how the placebo effect can be used in clinical care. 

Unlocking pain: is sleep the missing piece?

Dr Emily Stanyer, University of Oxford: "Sleep and pain: a bidirectional relationship"

Prof Zameel Cader, University of Oxford: "The rhythm of pain"

Explore the vital and often overlooked connection between sleep and pain in this session. We will delve into how sleep can influence pain perception (and vice versa) and learn about new findings on circadian rhythms and pain.