NeuPSIG LEADERSHIP
Executive Committee
- Chair: Patrick Dougherty
University of Texas, USA - Vice Chair: Theodore Price
University of Texas at Dallas, USA - Past Chair: Simon Haroutounian
Washington University, USA - Treasurer: David Bennett
University of Oxford, UK - Secretary: Margarita Calvo
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
Management Committee Members
- Lesley Colvin
University of Dundee, UK - Sulayman Dib-Hajj
Yale University, USA - Angelika Lampert
RWTH Aachen University, Germany - Franziska Denk
King’s College London, UK - Jan Vollert
University of Exeter, UK - Julia Forstenpointner
Christian-Albrecht University Kiel, Germany - Pall Karlsson
University Hospital Aarhus, Denmark - Qiufu Ma
Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
Honorary Members
- Blair H Smith
University of Dundee, UK - Raja N Srinivasa
Johns Hopkins University, USA - Rolf-Detlef Treede
Germany - Jonathan Dostrovsky
Canada - Troels Jensen
Denmark - Chris Wells
UK - Turo Nurmikko
UK - Edmond Charlton
UK
CONTACT NeuPSIG
What is Neuropathic Pain?
Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain condition caused by damage to the somatosensory nervous system, leading to abnormal pain signals.
Approximately 7-10% of the general population are affected, with prevalence increasing with age and certain medical conditions such as diabetes and post-herpetic neuralgia.
However, neuropathic pain is still inadequately treated, thus highlighting the urgent need for continued research and the development of more effective therapies.
NeuPSIG Mission and Vision
NeuPSIG’s mission is to advance the understanding of neuropathic pain mechanisms, assessment, prevention, and treatment, and to disseminate this knowledge to our global community of members and partners.
The NeuPSIG vision is to:
- Strive to be the main global community for neuropathic pain researchers, clinicians, and people with neuropathic pain.
- Educate our members, other clinicians, scientists and the public on neuropathic pain. We will do so via The International Congress on Neuropathic Pain, via workshops, symposia and satellite meetings at the IASP World Congress on Pain, via additional international and local meetings, and via the IASP website and other online activities.
- Foster collaboration between basic and clinical researchers on neuropathic pain, with a particular focus on early career professionals, to support the education and professional development of future leaders in this field.
- Synthesize and disseminate the latest state-of-the art information about assessment, treatment and prevention of neuropathic pain.
- Work with the wider pain research community to address common challenges and improve best practices.
NeuPSIG Initiatives:
9th International Congress on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG 2025) in Berlin, Germany.
From 4 – 6 September 2025, NeuPSIG will hold the 9th International Congress on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG 2025) in Berlin, Germany.
For Topical Workshops, Abstracts, and Registration:
Learn more, submit abstracts, and register.
For Supporter and Exhibit Opportunities:
Download the prospectus
Please contact sarah.wheeler@iasp-pain.org for further information
In 2022-2023, NeuPSIG was instrumental in revising the guidelines for neuropathic pain assessment as part of a joint effort with the European Academy of Neurology and the European Pain Federation. This work has now been published.
NeuPSIG is currently working on another initiative to develop guidelines for investigating chemotherapy-induced pain (CIPN) in preclinical animal models and in the clinic. We are asking for volunteers for this essential work. Interested members can contact Dr. Lesley Colvin and read more about our plans here.
NeuPSIG and its members have led or taken part in many similar important initiatives in the past decade. Here are just a few select publications that have arisen from this:
- The IASP classification of chronic pain for ICD-11: chronic neuropathic pain.
Scholz J, Finnerup NB, Attal N, Aziz Q, Baron R, Bennett MI, Benoliel R, Cohen M, Cruccu G, Davis KD, Evers S, First M, Giamberardino MA, Hansson P, Kaasa S, Korwisi B, Kosek E, Lavandʼhomme P, Nicholas M, Nurmikko T, Perrot S, Raja SN, Rice ASC, Rowbotham MC, Schug S, Simpson DM, Smith BH, Svensson P, Vlaeyen JWS, Wang SJ, Barke A, Rief W, Treede RD. Pain. 2019 Jan;160(1):53-59 - Neuropathic pain clinical trials: factors associated with decreases in estimated drug efficacy.
Finnerup NB, Haroutounian S, Baron R, Dworkin RH, Gilron I, Haanpaa M, Jensen TS, Kamerman P, McNicol E, Moore A, Raja SN, Andersen NT, Sena ES, Smith BH, Rice ASC, Attal N. Pain. 2018 Nov;159(11):2339-2346 - Neuropathic pain: An updated grading system for research and clinical practice.
Finnerup NB, Haroutounian S, Kamerman P, Baron R, Bennett DLH, Bouhassira D, Cruccu G, Freeman R, Hansson P, Nurmikko T, Raja SN, Rice ASC, Serra J, Smith BH, Treede R-D, Jensen TS. Pain. 2016 Aug;157(8):1599-1606 - Neuropathic pain phenotyping by international consensus (NeuroPPIC) for genetic studies: a NeuPSIG systematic review, Delphi survey, and expert panel recommendations.
van Hecke O, Kamerman PR, Attal N, Baron R, Bjornsdottir G, Bennett DL, Bennett MI, Bouhassira D, Diatchenko L, Freeman R, Freynhagen R, Haanpaa M, Jensen TS, Raja SN, Rice AS, Seltzer Z, Thorgeirsson TE, Yarnitsky D, Smith BH. Pain. 2015 Nov;156(11):2337-2353 - World Health Organization essential medicines lists: where are the drugs to treat neuropathic pain?
Kamerman PR, Wadley AL, Davis KD, Hietaharju A, Jain P, Kopf A, Meyer AC, Raja SN, Rice AS, Smith BH, Treede RD, Wiffen P. Pain. 2015 May;156(5):793-797 - Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Finnerup NB, Attal N, Haroutounian S, McNicol E, Baron R, Dworkin RH, Gilron I, Haanpaa M, Hansson P, Jensen TS, Kamerman PR, Lund K, Moore A, Raja SN, Rice ASC, Rowbotham M, Sena E, Siddall P, Smith BH, Wallace M. Lancet Neurol. 2015 Feb;14(2):162-73 - Value of quantitative sensory testing in neurological and pain disorders: NeuPSIG consensus.
Backonja MM, Attal N, Baron R, Bouhassira D, Drangholt M, Dyck PJ, Edwards RR, Freeman R, Gracely R, Haanpaa MH, Hansson P, Hatem SM, Krumova EK, Jensen TS, Maier C, Mick G, Rice AS, Rolke R, Treede RD, Serra J, Toelle T, Tugnoli V, Walk D, Walalce MS, Ware M, Yarnitsky D, Ziegler D. Pain. 2013 Sep;154(9):1807-1819
NeuPSIG History:
NeuPSIG was founded in 1999 by Chris Wells and Ed Charlton. It is one of IASP's largest SIGs. Over the years, it has had a newsletter and its own website and runs a large biennial congress.
Neuropathic Pain Definition
In 1994, the IASP defined neuropathic pain as pain caused by a dysfunction or lesion in the nervous system. In 2008, NeuPSIG proposed a new definition that excluded the term "dysfunction". The IASP Taxonomy Committee accepted a slightly modified version of this definition. Read more >
Grading System Evaluation
As part of the 2015 Global Year Against Neuropathic Pain, NeuPSIG established a committee to critically evaluate the use of the grading system seven years after its publication, assess its usefulness and limitations, and update it if necessary for improved application in clinical and research settings. Read more >
NeuPSIG Meetings
- NeuPSIG Satellite Event at the IASP 2024 World Congress on Pain in Amsterdam. See the August 2024 newsletter.
- 2023 NeuPSIG Congress in Lisbon
- 8 Plenary lectures/debates
- 24 Topical Workshops
- 253 Posters
- 2 Hands-on workshops (QST and Skin Biopsy)
- $35,000 allocated to bursaries for trainee/ECR attendance
- Trainee Reception
- 2019 NeuPSIG Congress in London
- 2015 Global Year Against Neuropathic Pain
NeuPSIG Resources:
More Resources Coming Soon