International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

In this week’s Featured Image, Evans et al. depict a multidisciplinary framework for addressing pain and disability in leprosy. Achieving elimination of leprosy requires not only reducing transmission but also addressing the broader health care needs of affected populations. Gaps remain in pain management, research, education, and diagnostic resources, particularly in resource-limited settings. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4uAo4M3

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are organizational priorities of IASP, and programming must ensure representation of all members. IASP encourages and promotes participation, accessibility, active representation, and leadership from diverse populations, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, s*xual orientation, economic status, disability, age, and religion. Beyond promoting diversity, the association promotes an environment that is supportive of all diverse groups in the interest of advancing science.

Happy Pride Month from IASP.

In this week’s Featured Image, Fauchon et al. depict how baby cries encode graded pain signals through acoustic features like pitch and vocal roughness, which listeners decoded to assess infant pain severity. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4n4Gx0i

Congratulations to Wasim Hoda, winner of the 2026 World Congress on Pain T-Shirt Design Contest.

Selected after 1,009 votes from the online community, Dr. Wasim Hoda’s design brings together Thai cultural icons, including an elephant and tuk-tuk, with universal symbols of healing, including the lotus and meditation. The result reflects the spirit of the 2026 World Congress on Pain in Bangkok: pain science, cultural context, and international collaboration.

The official T-shirt will be available for purchase only at the IASP Marketplace during the 2026 World Congress on Pain, 26–30 October 2026. Proceeds will support World Congress on Pain financial aid.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nVUZZ5

The Pain in Trauma SIG will hold a special virtual symposium on 11 June covering Management of Pain Related to Traumatic Amputation in Civilians and Combatants. The objective of this symposium is to provide a platform for experienced clinicians to present and reflect upon the expertise they are gaining through routine clinical care of individuals with traumatic amputations. By facilitating dialogue between clinicians with frontline experience and those seeking to enhance their practice, the symposium aims to promote shared learning and improve patient care. Due to the importance of this topic, registration is complimentary to all, including non-members. Register here: https://bit.ly/49cBeGp

Cadaver Workshops at the 2026 World Congress on Pain are sold out, but you can still practice technique with Hands-on Workshops during the Pre-Congress days on 25 and 26 October. These workshops include sessions such as Ultrasound for Pain Intervention, providing attendees with hands-on experience to better understand and apply the techniques learned in their practice. Space is limited, so secure your place in these Hands-On Workshops today: https://bit.ly/3RAsiEI

In this week’s Featured Image, Eldesouky et al. depict the progressive decline of C-fiber nociceptive function in individuals with diabetic neuropathy. The panels illustrate predefined sensory phenotypes—NSR (normal sensory response), TH (thermal hyperalgesia), MH (mechanical hyperalgesia), and SL (sensory loss)—and their associated structural and functional changes in nociceptors. Learn more in https://bit.ly/4uloSUz

IASP has endorsed the PAINDIFF recommendations for the inclusion and study of s*x and gender in pain research.

S*x and gender are critical determinants of pain prevalence, treatment response, and clinical outcomes, yet they are still inconsistently included in research design, analysis, and reporting.

The PAINDIFF recommendations provide a structured framework to improve rigor, transparency, and reproducibility across preclinical and clinical pain research.

By supporting these recommendations, IASP affirms the importance of s*x- and gender-informed methodologies in advancing more equitable, translatable, and effective pain research.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dkFk0f