PAINDIFF Meeting at University of Galway

The PAINDIFF Network meeting was held at the University of Galway on 27th-28th of May. PAINDIFF is a European ERA-NET Neuron and HRB funded network composed of 30 international leading pain research experts, early career researchers and patient advocates from 22 institutions across 8 countries. The network is led by Dr Michelle Roche, GNC Director and Co-Director of the Centre for Pain Research (CPR), which aims to develop recommendations and guidelines on methodological approaches to studying sex and gender differences in pain research.

The Network was launched at the European Pain Federation (EFIC) Meeting in Budapest in September 2023. In order to discuss the project and draft recommendations for best practice in the field, the network partners came to the University of Galway for an engaging 2-day meeting which took place at the Aula Maxima at the University Quadrangle. Partners that were able to make the trip to Galway, joined and participated online.

The meeting discussed current opinions and practices in preclinical, clinical and translational pain research with Co-Directors of the Centre for Pain Research leading subgroups in these respective areas (Preclinical subgroup: Dr Michelle Roche; Clinical subgroup Prof Brian McGuire and Translational Subgroup: Prof David Finn). In order to determine current practices and opinions in the field the group had launched a survey to collect data and it was decided that this should be relaunched to target underrepresented countries and cohorts. The survey is now open and will close on the 14th June. Greater diverse representation across countries and cultures will ensure that the findings of the expert group are as inclusive as possible. Preliminary findings from the Network will be presented at the International Association for Pain (IASP) World congress of Pain in Amsterdam in August and prepared for publication soon after.

PAINDIFF Network Partners: Michelle Roche, Brian McGuire, David Finn, Simon Beggs, Katelynn Boerner, Karen Davis, Ruth Defrin, Yves De Koninck, Hemakumar Devan, Herta Flor, Brona Fullen, Catherine Healy, Edmund Keogh, John Kenny, Rohini Kuner, Miriam Kunz, Stefan Lautenbacher, Emeran Mayer, Jeffrey Mogil, Siobhain O’Mahony, Kieran O’Sullivan, Louise Riordan, Michael Salter, Francesco Scarlatti, Kathleen Sluka, George Shorten, Jennifer Stinson, Kevin Vowles, Suellen Walker, Ipek Yalcin. For further updated on the PAINDIFF project see www.paindiff.com