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Scientific Program Committee BannerThe 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 (UK)
Neuroscience/Pharmacology/ Physiology
Basic Researcher

Gauhar Afshan, MBBS, FCPS (Pakistan)
Anesthesiology
Clinical Researcher

Fumimasa Amaya, MD (PhD)
Anesthesiology
Clinician

Jimmy Barus, MD, PhD (Indonesia)
Neurology
Clinician

Allan Basbaum, PhD (United States)
Neuroscience
Basic Scientist

Margarita Calvo, MD, MSc, PhD (Chile)
Neurology
Clinical Researcher

Marsha Campbell Yeo, PhD (Canada)
Pediatrics/Psychology/Neuroscience
Clinical Researcher

Daniel Ciampi de Andrade, MD, PhD (Denmark)
Neuromodulation/Neuroscience
Clinical Researcher

Ben Colagiuri, PhD (Australia)
Psychology
Basic Researcher

Ruth Defrin-Assa, PhD (Israel)
Neuroscience
Clinical Researcher

Michael Falcon, OTD (United States)
Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation
Educator

David Finn, BSc, PhD (Ireland)
Neuroscience
Basic Researcher

Thomas Graven-Nielsen, MScEE, PhD, DMSc (Denmark)
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Basic Researcher

David Hohenschurz Schmidt, PhD (UK)
Neuroscience
Clinical Researcher

Anna Hood, PhD (UK)
Psychology
Clinical Researcher

Pongsatorn Meesawatsom, PhD (Thailand)
Neuropharmacology
Basic Researcher

Jordi Miro, PhD (Spain)
Psychology/Social Science
Clinical Researcher

Andre Mouraux, PhD (Belgium)
Experimental Neuroscience
Basic Researcher

Sasikaan Nimmaanrat, MD, MMed (Thailand)
Anesthesiology
Educator

Elizabeth Ogboli Nwasor, MD (Nigeria)
Anesthesiology
Clinician

Xue-Jun Song, MD, PhD (China)
Neuroscience
Basic Researcher

Tasha Stanton, BSc, MSc, PhD (Australia)
Neuroscience/Rehabilitation
Clinical Researcher

Michele Sterling, PhD (Australia)
Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation
Clinical Researcher

Laura Stone, PhD (United States)
Neuroscience
Basic Researcher

Peter Svensson, PhD (Denmark)
Dentistry/Oral Medicine
Clinical Researcher

Ipek Yalcin, PhD (France)
Basic Science
Basic Researcher

Angela Yeo, MD (Singapore)
Pain Medicine
Clinician

Nantthasorn Zinbonyahgoon, MD (Thailand)
Pain Medicine
Clinician