News from the European Pain Federation EFIC Chapters - December 2025

The European Pain Federation EFIC is pleased to share recent news and updates from our national chapters below.

UK

The British Pain Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) will take place in Harrogate from 21–23 April 2026, bringing together healthcare professionals, researchers, and students from across the UK and internationally to share the latest advances in pain science and management. The ASM provides a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research, innovative clinical approaches, and thought-provoking discussions on the future of pain care. Delegates will be able to attend plenary lectures delivered by internationally renowned speakers, interactive topical workshops, and poster sessions showcasing emerging evidence across all aspects of pain management, from acute and chronic pain to neuropathic and complex pain conditions. Keynote speakers include Professor Karen Davis, delivering the Patrick Wall Lecture, and Professor Kris Vissers, delivering the British Pain Society Lecture, with additional plenary sessions led by Professor Frank Hyugen, Professor Tim Hales, Dr Rianne van Boeke, Professor Lorenzo Fabrizi, and Professor Brian McGuire. Beyond the scientific programme, networking remains at the heart of the ASM, offering opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas, and build lasting professional relationships, whether you are a seasoned expert or at the start of your career. Registration is now open, and the deadline for submitting abstracts is 7 January 2026; full details can be found on the conference website: https://bpsasm.org.

In addition to the ASM, the British Pain Society invites you to renew or begin your membership for 2026, joining a truly multidisciplinary community of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, pharmacists, and researchers all dedicated to improving pain management for all.

We are also delighted to offer a £25 membership rate for Student, Early Career professionals, and those retired from practice, ensuring that everyone at every stage of their career can stay connected and involved.

Members enjoy access to world-class education and resources, including conferences, webinars, and publications, opportunities to influence policy, research, and practice, and a platform to connect, learn, and lead within a vibrant professional community. Membership provides the chance to learn from colleagues across disciplines, contribute to shaping the future of pain care, and help improve the lives of people living with pain.

Finally, we are pleased to announce that the BPS Neuropathic Pain Education Day will take place on 26 February 2026 at the Royal College of Physicians, London, offering another excellent opportunity for learning, professional development, and networking. Further details and registration information for this event will be shared soon, and we look forward to welcoming delegates from across the UK to what promises to be an inspiring and educational day.

Finally, if you missed our recent webinars, we would like to inform you that the recordings are available via the BPS YouTube channel.

Portugal

New APED Board for the 2025–2028 Term
In the regular electoral cycle, APED elected a new Board that will serve during the 2025–2028 term, led by Rita Moutinho. The new leadership aims to strengthen the association’s role as a national reference in the study, education, and management of pain. The strategic priorities for this term include reinforcing specialized training for healthcare professionals, expanding scientific and clinical collaboration across disciplines, and promoting wider public awareness of pain as a major health challenge. The new Board is committed to consolidating APED’s mission through innovation, inclusion, and excellence in education and research. To know APED’s board go here: https://www.aped-dor.org/direccao

APED’s Course on Interventional Techniques in Pain Medicine 2025/26, 2nd edition
Following the success of the inaugural edition in 2024/2025, we launched on 29 November the 2nd Edition of the Course on Interventional Techniques in Pain Medicine in our academy – APED Pain Academy. This is a nine-month specialized training programme designed for physicians seeking to develop and deepen their expertise in interventional pain management. The 2nd edition has been restructured to provide greater flexibility to learners and enhanced theoretical and practical learning, including an increased number of hands-on training hours and an additional module offering clinical observational placements, scheduled to begin in 2026. The course is currently undergoing UEMS accreditation.

APED’s National Congress 2026 – Save the Date
APED invites the EFIC community to save the date for the 2026 National Congress, taking place on 16–17 October in Tomar, Portugal. As in previous years, the Congress is a central meeting point for the national and international pain community, providing a vital space for scientific exchange, multidisciplinary dialogue, and the development of new partnerships and collaborations. By fostering the discussion of emerging evidence and best practices, the Congress contributes directly to the broader effort to reduce the impact of pain on individuals, health systems, and society as a whole. APED’s National Congress 2026 also marks the Portuguese National Day Against Pain. Further details on the event will be announced soon.

Ireland

The 25^th Anniversary of the IPS Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) was held on the 18^th October 2025. The IPS council would sincerely like to thank all the speakers, chairs, panellists, presenters and delegates that attended. A special word of thanks to the sponsors and exhibitors that made this meeting possible. We are delighted that this ASM was endorsed by EFIC and that Prof Luis Garcia-Larrea, President of EFIC provided the plenary lecture for the meeting. 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. The ASM was comprised of an extensive programme of presentations, discussions, educations meetings and workshops which was fitting way to and celebrate this momentous occasion. More information can be found via the links for an overview of the meeting activities (https://irishpainsociety.ie/celebrating-25th-irish–pain–society-annual-scientific-meeting-at-the-university-of-galway/) and to download the booklet click (https://irishpainsociety.ie/ips-asm/). Also to note that in addition to being published on the IPS website, the IPS ASM 2025 booklet will also be published on the EFIC website in due course.

A number of prizes were awarded including the Pain Research medals, the Dr Hugh Rafferty medal and 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. A list of prize winners can be found (https://irishpainsociety.ie/prize-winners-at-the-ips-asm-2025/)

Several new members were elected to the IPS council at the 2025 AGM. Welcome to Dr Mary O’Keefe, Dr Moustafa Moustafa, Dr Al-Mubarak Al-Abbas, Dr Zaeem Siddique Dr Michelle Roche term as IPS President can to an end and Prof Siobhain O’Mahony is now the new IPS President for 2025-2027. Dr Roche will take on the role of immediate past president and IPS representative on EFIC council.

Czechia

As Assoc. Prof. Kozak resigned from his position as President of SSLB, Assoc. Prof. Tomas Gabrhelik from Zlín Regional Hospital has taken over the role. Our next board elections will take place in 2027. I, Simon Kozak, MD, continue to serve as the EFIC Councillor and am pleased to remain in this representative function until the next elections in 2027.

We have also established new divisions within SSLB, including a Psychological Group, a Non-Physician Healthcare Providers Group (physiotherapists, social workers, pain nurses, etc.), a Youth Pain Physicians Group, and a Private Pain Physicians Group.

Another major development in our organisation is the pilot project of the Interventional Pain Academy, where we aim to standardise technical skills among pain physicians nationwide using cadaver labs and both fluoroscopic and ultrasound guidance (AIA SSLB).

A significant step forward in 2024 was the start of a close collaboration with a promotion agency, which has greatly increased our activity on social media (Instagram, Facebook) and led to a redesign of our website. As a result, SSLB is now more visible, and we have launched informative posts for patients with chronic pain as well as for physicians from pain-related specialties encouraging them to engage with us.

As SSLB, we look forward to becoming a more active part of the EFIC family, and I personally hope to contribute to this by strengthening our involvement. I will also do my best to connect our new patient organisation (POCHOB) with the Pain Alliance and SIP attached to EFIC, and to bring the excellent patient support offered by these structures to the Czech Republic.