The role of the Scientific Program Committee is to plan, direct, and supervise the World Congress on Pain’s scientific program, develop the overall Congress schedule, review and rate the proposed technical workshops and plenary sessions, and suggest and help implement ways to increase the Congress’ appeal to particular groups such as trainees, primary care physicians, or potential delegates from the developing world. The committee provides continuous feedback throughout the Congress planning cycle, assists in the review of submitted poster abstracts, and develops the selection process for special lectures.2026 World Congress on Pain Scientific Program Committee
Committee Chair: Kirsty Bannister, PhD
King's College London (UK)
Neuroscience/Pharmacology/ Physiology
Basic Researcher
Gauhar Afshan, MBBS, FCPS
Aga Khan University (Pakistan)
Anesthesiology
Clinical Researcher
Fumimasa Amaya, MD, PhD
Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine (Japan)
Anesthesiology
Clinician
Jimmy Barus, MD, PhD
Atma Jaya Catholic University (Indonesia)
Neurology
Clinician
Allan Basbaum, PhD
University of California - San Francisco (United States)
Neuroscience
Basic Scientist
Margarita Calvo, MD, MSc, PhD
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (Chile)
Neurology
Clinical Researcher
Marsha Campbell Yeo, PhD
Dalhousie University (Canada)
Pediatrics/Psychology/Neuroscience
Clinical Researcher
Daniel Ciampi de Andrade, MD, PhD
Aalborg University (Denmark)
Neuromodulation/Neuroscience
Clinical Researcher
Ben Colagiuri, PhD
University Of Sydney (Australia)
Psychology
Basic Researcher
Ruth Defrin-Assa, PhD
Tel-Aviv University (Israel)
Neuroscience
Clinical Researcher
Michael Falcon, OTD
Hawai`i Pacific University (United States)
Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation
Educator
David Finn, BSc, PhD
University Of Galway (Ireland)
Neuroscience
Basic Researcher
Thomas Graven-Nielsen, MScEE, PhD, DMSc
Aalborg University (Denmark)
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Basic Researcher
David Hohenschurz Schmidt, PhD
Imperial College London (UK)
Neuroscience
Clinical Researcher
Anna Hood, PhD
University of Manchester (UK)
Psychology
Clinical Researcher
Pongsatorn Meesawatsom, PhD
Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University (Thailand)
Neuropharmacology
Basic Researcher
Jordi Miro, PhD
Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Spain)
Psychology/Social Science
Clinical Researcher
Andre Mouraux, PhD
UCLouvain (Belgium)
Experimental Neuroscience
Basic Researcher
Sasikaan Nimmaanrat, MD, MMed
Prince of Songkla University (Thailand)
Anesthesiology
Educator
Elizabeth Ogboli Nwasor, MD
Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (Nigeria)
Anesthesiology
Clinician
Xue-Jun Song, MD, PhD
Southern University of Science and Technology (China)
Neuroscience
Basic Researcher
Tasha Stanton, BSc, MSc, PhD
The University of South Australia (Australia)
Neuroscience/Rehabilitation
Clinical Researcher
Michele Sterling, PhD
The University of Qld (Australia)
Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation
Clinical Researcher
Laura Stone, PhD
University of Minnesota (United States)
Neuroscience
Basic Researcher
Peter Svensson, PhD
Aarhus University, School of Dentistry (Denmark)
Dentistry/Oral Medicine
Clinical Researcher
Ipek Yalcin, PhD
Inst. Des Neurosciences Cellulaires Et Integrat. (France)
Basic Science
Basic Researcher
Angela Yeo, MD
KK Women's and Children's Hospital (Singapore)
Pain Medicine
Clinician
Nantthasorn Zinbonyahgoon, MD
Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University (Thailand)
Pain Medicine
Clinician