Progress in pain: IASP hold their 50th anniversary congress in Amsterdam

Updated 29 August 2024 at 07:52

Gathering in Amsterdam for their World Congress, the International Association for the Study of Pain celebrated its 50th anniversary by reflecting on groundbreaking advancements in pain management. The event not only honoured their historic achievements but also actively engaged the local community through innovative impact initiatives.

Convening experts in pain management

In a world where over 20% of the global population experiences chronic pain, the need for understanding pain and pain treatment is more important than ever. Europe alone sees 1 in 5 people living with chronic pain, highlighting the need for advancements in research and treatment methods.

To address this, the International Association on the Study of Pain (IASP), who are focused on the advancements on research of pain, gathered in Amsterdam from August 5 to 9 to hold their 2024 world congress at RAI Amsterdam.

Image from Krab creative agency

Connecting more than 6,000 professionals from 125 countries, this year’s congress welcomed over 5,000 scientists across the globe and a world-class lineup of 400 speakers. Among them, Nobel Prize-winning physiology and medicine experts David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian who delivered keynote lectures that set the tone for exploring the latest advancements in pain education and clinical care. With 93 topical workshops – pain was discussed across the field of medicine, from cancer pain to sex, gender and racial differences in pain.

The World Congress on Pain is a place where we bring together scientists who study pain and clinicians who treat pain and allow them to talk to each other so we can move forward for better treatment of pain in the future.

Catherine Bushnell, IASP President

Advancing pain research in Amsterdam

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Home to a strong cluster of institutions advancing healthcare challenges, Amsterdam is where organisations collaborate to spur advancements in pain research. For example, Amsterdam UMC and Pijn Alliantie in Nederland (PAiN) work together throughout the Netherlands to highlight important research in pain management, and to support major healthcare events like the IASP.

With research showing that pain is the number one reason why people seek healthcare – it was important not just for the local advisory committee but also for the Amsterdam Convention Bureau to organise events for local residents. Both to increase their awareness and understanding of pain, and to extend knowledge beyond the scientific community.

Amsterdam Convention Bureau bring their expertise

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Amsterdam Convention Bureau (ACB) knows that hosting impactful events means creating a lasting benefit not only for conference-goers, but also for residents in the city. Building on the success of previous impact initiatives in 2024, ACB partnered with Pijn Alliantie in Nederland (PA!N) to launch the PA!N IMPACT 2024 programme. Offering a series of free activities for Amsterdam residents.

Mindful Movement Experience by Sanctum: Giving Amsterdammers a chance to truly let loose, the workshop titled ‘’Movement, Music and the Influence on Pain’’ included a mix of movement, guided meditation sessions and dance.
Art Tours at the Rijksmuseum: Understanding how pain has been depicted through history, "Pain in Art" offered a series of free guided tours exploring the depiction and interpretation of pain in various artworks.
Comedy Show at Boom Chicago: The English-language show "Tragedy + Time = Comedy" showcased how humour can heal, with performances designed to foster empathy and understanding.
Interactive Science Experiment at NEMO: During Amsterdam's iconic Museum Night, the experiment 'Science: Humour as Pain Therapy' will take place at Nemo science museum to study how humour could influence pain tolerance.

Watch the IASP 2024 showcase video

The Amsterdam Convention played a big role when creating impact on the city when it comes to the subject of pain – and of course, as someone who researches pain as my job – I want to have my research not only have an impact for patients, but also an impact on the city, to create an environment through these events where everyone can increase their knowledge on pain.

Hans Timmerman – Representative from the local advisory committee

Holding your event in Amsterdam truly means a collaboration spanning multiple sectors that are there to support your conference. The city's inclusive atmosphere, with cultural institutions and organisations eager to partner, ensures that conferences like the IASP 2024 conference run smoothly while also sharing valuable knowledge with the local community.