1990 - 1999
1990
Sixth World Congress on Pain - Adelaide
In 1990, IASP held the World Congress on Pain in the Oceania region. This World Congress on Pain in Adelaide, Australia, was attended by more than 1,000 delegates.
1993
Seventh World Congress on Pain - Paris
In 1993, the World Congress on Pain in Paris was attended by 4,000 delegates, a 4-fold increase over the previous Congress. At a special Mayoral Reception at the Hotel de Ville, the French Minister of Health recognized IASP and the work of its members.
1993
John Liebeskind Interviews Founders
In 1993, John Liebeskind, one of IASP’s founding members, initiated a Pain Oral History project, which included recorded interviews with IASP founders and other prominent IASP members. They spoke about their professional journeys, the evolution of pain science, and why they chose to devote their lives to the study and management of pain. Transcripts and excerpts of some of these interviews are available as part of this 50th Anniversary.
1993
European Federation of IASP Chapters (EFIC) Founded
In 1993, the European Federation of IASP chapters, later renamed as the European Pain Federation (EFIC) was founded as the first regional Federation of IASP. Today, EFIC is a multidisciplinary professional organization supporting pain research and education. It consists of the 36 European Chapters of IASP.
1993
Latin American Federation of Associations for the Study of Pain (FEDELAT) Founded
In 1993, the Latin American Federation of Associations for the Study of Pain (FEDELAT) was founded at a meeting in Cartagena, Colombia led by the then IASP Councilor Pedro Bejarano.
1994
Publication of the Second Edition of the Classification of Chronic Pain
In 1994, the second edition of the IASP Classification of Chronic Pain, edited by Harold Merskey and Nikolai Bogduk and reflecting substantial work by the IASP Task Force on Terminology, was published by IASP Press.
1994
Passing of Dr. and Mrs. Bonica
In August 1994, the founder of IASP and pioneer of pain research, Dr. John Bonica, passed away. John passed just over a month after his wife and greatest source of inspiration, Emma Bonica.
1996
First IASP Website
In 1996, IASP stepped into new territory with the development of the association’s first website. Initially a simple homepage, it later included the first international calendar of pain meetings, information about IASP publications, back issues of PAIN, and information on upcoming World Congresses. The IASP website has since been through multiple iterations, with our most recent website redesigned and launched in 2021.
1996
Eighth World Congress on Pain - Vancouver
In 1996, IASP held the World Congress on Pain in Vancouver, Canada. More than 4,200 delegates attended, continuing the trend of increasing global attendance established in Paris three years before.
1998
First John J. Bonica Trainee Fellowship Awarded
In 1998, The John J. Bonica Trainee Fellowship was awarded to its first recipient, Laura S. Stone from the U.S. Now a professor of anesthesiology at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Stone has made major contributions in pain research over the years since 1998.
1999
First Research Symposia
In 1999 the IASP Council approved a program of Research Symposia to be held on the years between the World Congress on Pain. The first of these symposia was organized by Eija Kalso titled “Opioid Sensitivity of Chronic Non-Cancer Pain” and was held in Helsinki, Finland on 30 November 1999.
1999
Ninth World Congress on Pain - Vienna
In 1999, the World Congress on Pain was attended by more than 5,500 delegates in Vienna, Austria. This World Congress on Pain was the first in which IASP made program materials available online. The table of contents of the Abstract Book and Refresher Course Syllabus were available on the IASP website.