#EFIC2025 Workshop Submission

• Three main categories: B (basic research), T (translational), C (clinical).
• Workshops will be grouped by sub-categories.
• Please click here to view the topics under which proposals may be submitted.

• Although the Scientific Programme Committee (SPC) will take all proposals into consideration, it may recommend modifications to individual proposals that may require re-submission.
• We recommend using interactive formats to engage with the audience (for example polling, videos, patient perspective,) Please indicate any technical requirements for the integration of your interactive format; we will provide logistical and technical support.
• EFIC represents the multidisciplinary pain science and pain management community. We strongly encourage sessions that provide a multidisciplinary perspective.

• EFIC provides support for 3 faculty members per workshop*. If your proposal requires a faculty of more than 3, you will be required to distribute the workshop funding across all speakers. *Please refer to the Financial Support section of the guidelines. The proposer is expected to chair and coordinate the session.
• The proposer is expected to be one of the speakers.
• The proposer of a workshop must ensure that their suggested speakers have been made aware of the workshop proposal and that they agree to the workshop suggestion before the proposal is submitted. If this is not the case, the proposal may be rejected during the review process. All suggested speakers from accepted workshops will be emailed to confirm their proposed participation and understand the levels of support available.
• Proposals must be submitted via the formal congress submission system only.
• Proposals must be received by the announced deadline. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.
• All speakers must consent to their session being available for recording and web streaming on the #EFICAcademy Education Platform. A formal consent process will take place ahead of the meeting, where you can provide guidance if any pre-publication research should be removed from recordings.

The Submission system allows for multiple submissions. Please see specific guidelines below:

• Proposers are allowed to submit more than one workshop proposal, and candidate speakers can participate in more than one workshop submission (please note that financial aid to speakers is not accumulable).
• Since the SPC seeks to limit the number of speakers presenting in more than one workshop, if a speaker is engaged in more than one workshop shortlisted for the scientific program, the SPC may request the workshop chairs to identify an alternative speaker. 

Proposals should include the following information:

• Session title up to 25 words
• Presentation title
• Workshop description up to 200 words
• Objectives up to 50 words
• Guidance on session format up to 100 words, including any specific logistical or technical instruction
• Main category: B (basic research), T (translational), C (clinical)
• Targeted audience: You will be asked to select which professional or interest groups your proposal is targeting. You can select multiple groups if your workshop targets a multidisciplinary audience.
• EFIC have a number of thematic priorities and campaigns, listed below, which your workshop may align with. If the workshop aligns with one or more of these priorities or campaigns, you can select them freely. The SPC reserve the right to review and re-allocate the theme if they believe it aligns better with another:
  • Comorbidity of chronic pain and mental health disorders: This is the overarching topic of EFIC2025, through which the congress will explore the interplay between chronic pain and mental health disorders.
  • Patient Focus Session: ‘Patient Focus Sessions’ are a selection of Topical Workshops where either patients are involved in the development of the session or patient involvement in science/clinical management is the focus
  • On The Move: ‘On the Move’ is EFIC’s campaign where we draw attention to the impact of exercise and physical activity on the prevention of chronic pain.
  • The Societal Impact of Pain: EFIC has a long-running campaign called ‘The Societal Impact of Pain’, where it  tries to  draw  attention to the economic and social impact of pain and the need for policy and health systems changes. The campaign is managed with Pain Alliance Europe, a patients’ group for people with pain conditions.
  • Plain Talking: ‘Plain Talking’ is EFIC’s campaign focused on the importance of health literacy. Health literacy is a person’s ability to access, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health and is considered a global health issue by the World Health Organisation. It is a key asset for all of us when it comes to making decisions about our health and for improving health outcomes. It is particularly important for people living with pain to help them understand and actively manage their health. 
  • “Building bridges; breaking down barriers”. One of the priorities of the current EFIC Presidency, this campaign aims to improve communication and collaboration between the various groups, societies and disciplines linking to pain research or pain management. As such, it encourages the development of joint scientific or educational projects (guidelines, recommendations, educational programs) bringing together the strengths of the various stakeholders.
• Speakers information, including:
  • Name
  • Academic title and field of practice
  • Contact information (affiliation, email, telephone)
  • Number of years since PhD (< or ≥ 5 years)

For #EFIC2025, the Scientific Programme Committee decided to offer 3 different formats of Scientific Sessions:

1. Topical Workshop

A topical workshop is a session presenting basic, translational or clinical research specific to a topic. Each speaker is expected to add something new to the discussion, with the presentations being linked. New research is preferred, though significant reviews or position papers can be covered.

• Session is chaired and introduced by one of the three presenters
• Three (3) speakers present their topic for twenty (20) minutes (3×20 minutes)
• Five (5) minute Q&A after each presentation (3×5 minutes)
• A general discussion, chaired by one of the presenters (15 minutes)
  • Interactivity: Voting, Polling, Videos, etc.

2. Debate Workshop

A debate workshop is a session designed to facilitate discussion and debate on a topic for which there may be divergent views, or where the novelty of the field invites hypothesis. The format could take on a specific pro-contra format or be more open to different perspectives.

• Session is chaired and introduced by the proposer, they should not be part of the debate
• The Chair introduces the topic of the debate shortly (5min) – The debates should focus on a hot topic in the field or on a topic viewed by different fields,
• Ideally multidisiplinary
• Two to Three (2-3) speakers introduce their perspective (3X7 minutes)
  • The general discussion is chaired by the chair (60 – 70 minutes)
  • The Chair should encourage interaction from the audience
  • Interactivity: Voting, Polling, Videos, etc.
• An alternative format is a panel discussion with 4-6 speakers with a 5 min statement to a specific topic – discussion between the speakers and Q&A from the audience
  • The general discussion is chaired by the chair (40 minutes)
  • The Chair should allow intervention from the audience
  • Interactivity: Voting, Polling, Videos, etc.
• The Chair of the debate workshop should be an expert in the field and experienced in moderating such a session

3. Demonstration (hands-off) Workshop

Demonstration workshops aim to showcase clinical skills and techniques relevant to multidisciplinary pain management, including pain assessment, patient communication, and specific therapeutic approaches (this does not include interventional pain practice cadaver workshops). If your workshop requires a device, it is expected that this device is provided by the presenter. Please note that any material or product demonstrated should not be aiming to sell the product or linked to a specific company. If a third-party such as a company is lending the device, the company members bringing the device cannot be present or participate in the presentation of the workshop (but the company is encouraged to hold a booth in the exhibition).  Please refer to industry sponsored session on the website or contact directly maya.ravinsky@efic.org .

• Session is chaired and introduced by one of the presenters (3 maximum, including a patient if relevant)
• The presenter introduces the system being demonstrated (10 minutes) – this should include a general introduction, the aim of the system, and who is it destined for (which field, which pathology, which question, etc)
• The demonstrations would ideally aim to attract different healthcare professionals (50 min)
• A general discussion, chaired by one of the presenters (30 minutes)
  • Interactivity: based on the system presented, attendee participations in the demonstrations, patient intervention, voting, polling, videos, etc.

• Speakers must be from different institutions.
• All speakers cannot be from the same country
• We strongly recommend a gender-balanced list of speakers
• Workshops including an early career researcher (postdocs with no more than 5 years from PhD completion) are encouraged.
• All speakers should be experienced in presenting their research to a broad multidisciplinary audience.

Financial support can only be given to three (3) faculty members and cannot be increased to cover additional participants in the workshop. If a session includes more than three faculty members, the proposer will be asked to inform EFIC of the distribution of the financial support.

• Euro 750 towards travel will be divided amongst all participants in a workshop.
• Six (6) nights’ hotel accommodation will be divided amongst all participants in a workshop.
• Three (3) complementary registrations will be given to the workshop participants.

If a speaker is invited to speaker to more than one session, please note that the financial aid is not cumulative.