The Irish Pain Society (IPS) hosted the 25^th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) on the 18^th October at Áras Moyola, University of Galway. With over 130 delegates and 10 exhibitors, 11 invited speakers, panelists and chairs, 54 posters and 8 short oral presentations, this years ASM was an excellent forum to showcase the latest in pain research and pain management both nationally and internationally and celebrate this momentous occasion for the IPS. The central theme of this years ASM was ‘Pain Management, Research and Education in Low- and Middle-Income Settings’, reflecting the 2025 Global Year theme of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). The meeting was endorsed by the European Pain Federation (EFIC) and following a brief introduction by the IPS President, Dr Michelle Roche, officially opened by the newly appointed President of the University of Galway, Prof David Burn. The plenary lecture was given by Prof Luis Garcia-Larrea (Lyon Neuroscience Centre and current President of the EFIC) entitled ‘Cortical Stimulation for Chronic Pain: from anecdote to evidence’. This stimulating talk was following a by research talks from international research experts including Dr Nadja Nestler (Paracelsus Medical University and president-elect of the German Society for Pain Medicine) who provide a nursing perspective on the area of pain management and research. Prof Kevin Vowles (Queen’s University Belfast) shared insights from three decades of clinical psychology experience, emphasising that chronic pain is a biopsychosocial problem rather than purely biological. Prof Harriët Wittink (HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht) presented on ‘Physical Activity Patterns and Pain’and Prof. Jeffrey Mogil (E.P. Taylor Professor of Pain Studies, Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada) delivered a comprehensive talk titled “Pain, Sex, and Death”, exploring sex differences in pain perception and mechanisms. All of the invited speakers also participated in the discipline-specific educational meetings and workshops which provided valuable discussion and insight. Chaired by Dr Conor Hearty (Dean of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, and Consultant in Pain Medicine at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin), Dr David Moore, Consultant in Pain Medicine at Beaumont Hospital Dublin, shared insights into his journey developing an integrated pain management community service iPainCare, at Beaumont Hospital. Aligning with the theme of the meeting, a panel discussion on tramua-informed pain care saw panellists included Prof Kevin, Dr David, Ms Roisin Hosie (Physiotherapist), and Niamh Walsh (representing Chronic Pain Ireland and a person with lived experience of pain) discuss the latest opinions and practice in this field with audience involvement throughout.

This years’ ASM saw the highest number of abstracts submitted for short oral and poster presentations, the majority of which were submitted by early career researchers. A number of prizes were awarded including the inaugural Prof Laserina O’Connor medal for best presentation by a nurse, in honour of the IPS past president. We congratulate all of the prize winners.

 

The IPS council would like to thank all of the speakers, panellists, chairs, short oral, poster presenters and delegates for making this such a successful meeting. A special word of thanks to our sponsors, without which this meeting would not be possible. The conference booklet is available on the IPS website and will also be published on the EFIC website.

Members of the Irish Pain Society Council.  From left to right: Patricia Molyneaux, Dr Olga Baron, Prof Brian McGuire, Dr. Michelle Roche (President), Prof Siobhain O’Mahony (President-Elect), Anne Marie Kiernan, Dr Joanne O’Brien, Prof David Finn.  Members not in photo: Dr Camillus Power, Dr Cormac Mullins, Prof Kieran O’Sullivan, Dr Patrick Finan, Dr Tadhg Lynch, Dr John Browne, Dr Andrew Purcell, Dr Zaeem Siddique.