Location: Hybrid, Online & Brussels, Belgium (Exact Venue TBC soon)
Date: Wednesday 5th November 2025
The European scientific and healthcare communities are warmly invited to attend the Final Conference of PANACEA (Programme to Advise, Normalise And Control European Administration of placebos), which will take place on 5th November 2025 in Brussels.
This important event marks the conclusion of the PANACEA Erasmus+ project, coordinated by the University of Bologna, which has over the last three years led a unique and much-needed effort to bring placebo and nocebo education into the core of medical and health sciences curricula across Europe.
The conference will bring together educators, researchers, clinicians, policy-makers, and students to reflect on the project’s outcomes, celebrate key achievements, and chart the way forward for integrating ethically sound, scientifically grounded knowledge of placebo and nocebo mechanisms into clinical education and practice.
About PANACEA
Placebo and Nocebo effects are powerful mediators of clinical outcomes, yet they remain underrepresented in traditional medical education. The PANACEA project was created to fill this gap.
With a consortium of leading universities and organisations from across Europe, the project has developed a robust and interdisciplinary educational programme focused on:
-
Understanding the biological, psychological and social mechanisms underlying placebo and nocebo responses.
-
Promoting ethical, evidence-based communication in clinical settings.
-
Providing interactive, digital learning tools and clinical case studies to help students and professionals apply this knowledge in practice.
-
Addressing the misuse, misunderstanding, and stigma surrounding placebo use in healthcare.
From the Madrid Summer School on Placebo Education to a suite of e-learning modules, clinical vignettes, and guidelines, PANACEA has pioneered a new model of professional development—bringing academic research, clinical practice, and digital innovation together in service of patient-centred care.
What to Expect at the Final Event
The hybrid PANACEA Final Conference on 5th November 2025 will feature:
-
Keynotes from international experts in placebo science, pain medicine, health psychology, and medical education.
-
Live demonstrations of digital and virtual reality tools developed through the project.
-
A presentation of clinical guidelines and educational materials ready for adoption by universities and training institutions.
-
Interactive discussions and panels on the future of placebo/nocebo education, healthcare communication, and patient outcomes.
-
Networking opportunities with members of the PANACEA consortium and stakeholders from medical education, clinical governance, and EU institutions.
This event will not only highlight the successes of the project but also invite broader collaboration as the PANACEA legacy is taken forward into curricula, clinical guidelines, and policy discussions across Europe.
If you are interested in receiving further updates on the event and project, please sign up here
