Mission and Vision
Together, we help those living with pain not just live but live well.
GAPPA’s vision is to work together to improve the lives of people affected by pain through effective and equitable integration of the lived pain experience into all aspects of pain research, management, education, and advocacy, across the world, for all people.
Its mission is to bring together patient advocates, patient organizations, scientists, clinicians, healthcare providers, and policymakers to create better outcomes in the awareness, understanding, research, teaching, assessment, and management of pain throughout the world.
GAPPA MEMBERSHIP
GAPPA is a membership organization designed to foster ideas, have meaningful gatherings to share ideas and experiences, and to advance the cause of people with lived experience of pain.
GAPPA members include people who have experience of pain advocacy (people living with pain, care givers, family members, and others working in pain advocacy) and IASP members who are pain researchers, clinicians and teachers.
Membership is available for individuals, organizations, and IASP members. Membership will be free through the end of 2026, offering the following opportunities:
GAPPA creates a global network of individuals and organizations dedicated to pain advocacy. Members can connect with a diverse group of stakeholders, including:
- People with Lived Experience of Pain
- Patient Advocates
- Researchers and Clinicians
This collaborative environment helps to break down traditional barriers and create a unified, impactful voice for the pain community worldwide.
PATIENTS AS PARTNERS in Research
GAPPA’s expertise makes them exceptional collaborators on many research projects that align with their values and aims. One of GAPPA’s main goals is facilitating connections between researchers and those living with pain.
GAPPA has already established meaningful partnerships with researchers in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand focused on patient-centered outcomes in everything from opioid tapering through storytelling to exploring the crossroads between sociology and chronic pain.
Patients as Partners in Research
History
GAPPA was formed in 2019, as a Presidential Task Force of the International Association for the Study of Pain, commissioned by Dr Lars Arendt-Nielsen. This followed many years of work, discussion, and negotiation by a dedicated international group of people who were experts in the lived experience of pain, and who had many years’ experience of pain advocacy. Their underlying beliefs were that:
- There was insufficient input from people with lived experience of pain (PWLE) into research, practice, and policy regarding pain understanding and management;
- This imbalance needed to be corrected; and
- IASP was the perfect platform from which to do this.
Since then, activities have included:
- Educational programming to enhance understanding and inclusion of lived experience.
- Research collaborations to incorporate lived experience perspectives.
- Non-research collaborations and partnerships aimed at enhancing global awareness and integration.
- Contributions to IASP events and programmes.
- Participation in IASP Committees, Task Forces, and Working Groups.
- Contributions to publications and resources.
With continuing support from IASP, GAPPA is opening up to individual and organizational membership in 2025. This will allow expansion of these activities in line with our Vision and Mission, and further development of collaborations and strategies globally, in partnership with local, national and regional organizations that are working in this sphere.
By joining GAPPA, you can be part of this journey.
The Amsterdam Principles
GAPPA’s Amsterdam Principles, the result of many meetings, discussions, and email exchanges, guide the organization forward and include overarching, governance, leadership, membership, and voting principles.
The following principles have been agreed by the GAPPA Task Force, and were proposed to IASP Council towards the establishment of GAPPA as a foundation related to IASP.
Together, they are termed “The Amsterdam Principles”.
Please note that, as of August 2025, some governance and establishment principles may be subject to change or not currently in effect.
PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES
Since its establishment in 2019, GAPPA has initiated a range of activities:
- Educational programming to enhance understanding and inclusion of lived experience.
- Research collaborations to incorporate lived experience perspectives.
- Non-research collaborations and partnerships aimed at enhancing global awareness and integration.
- Contributions to IASP events and programmes.
- Participation in IASP Committees, Task Forces and Working Groups.
- Contributions to publications and resources.
To build on these activities, GAPPA also plans to:
- Develop a global community of people living with pain, carers, researchers, clinicians and other interested parties
- Create resources and mutual support for advancing partnerships that integrate the lived experience of pain into research, education, treatment development, and other professional pain work
- Provide personal and educational support for clinicians, researchers, educators, people living with pain, and advocates to co-create initiatives where lived pain experience is essential
- Implement communication and marketing strategies to enhance GAPPA’s visibility and reach
LIVING WITH PAIN RESOURCES
Browse compiled resources relevant to people living with chronic conditions that cause pain.
IASP/GAPPA does not offer patient referrals, and inclusion as a resource should not be construed as an endorsement by IASP/GAPPA.
IASP/GAPPA is not responsible for the information contained on third-party sites.