WASHINGTON, DC, January 7, 2026 – Today, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) launched its 2026 Global Year campaign, an annual worldwide initiative to raise awareness and drive progress in pain research and care. For 2026, Global Year is focused on neuropathic pain – a chronic condition affecting an estimated 580 to 830 million people globally.
Neuropathic pain occurs when disease or injury damages the nervous system, disrupting its normal function and causing pain. It is associated with common conditions such as sciatica and diabetes, as well as diseases and injuries that disproportionately affect historically underserved populations, including HIV, leprosy, and nerve injuries and amputations resulting from trauma, such as blast injuries and the long-term environmental contamination caused by war.
“Despite its prevalence and the disability it can cause, neuropathic pain often remains underdiagnosed, undertreated, and misunderstood – contributing to avoidable suffering worldwide,” said Andrew S.C. Rice, President of IASP (2024–2026) and Professor of Pain Research at Imperial College London. “With leadership from our 2026 Global Year Co-chairs and task force members, we aim to raise awareness and advocate for better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.”
The 2026 Global Year on Neuropathic Pain is led by Co-chairs Angelika Lampert and Neil O’Connell, representing IASP’s Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group and the Methodology, Evidence Synthesis, and Implementation Special Interest Group, respectively. Dr. Lampert is the Director of the Institute of Neurophysiology at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen University, and Dr. O’Connell is Professor of Evidence-Based Healthcare at Brunel University of London.
“Joined by more than 40 task force volunteers, four regional federations, and nearly 100 chapters worldwide, the initiative will engage clinicians, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and communities across the globe. Activities will include the distribution of educational fact sheets, the hosting of webinars, and the promotion of related research published in IASP’s journals,” said O’Connell.
“Our goal is to close the gap in understanding in care by raising global awareness of neuropathic pain and its impact,” added Lampert. “Throughout 2026, we will highlight both the progress being made and the continued need for more rigorous, impactful neuropathic pain research. Ultimately, we want to support improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment worldwide.”
To reach the broadest possible audience, all Global Year on Neuropathic Pain activities are offered at no cost. While grounded in scientific evidence, most fact sheets are written for audiences unfamiliar with neuropathic pain. These audiences, alongside professionals from across pain-related disciplines, are also invited to attend webinars featuring leading experts and to explore the latest neuropathic pain research published in IASP’s journals, PAIN and PAIN Reports.
Learn more about the 2026 Global Year on Neuropathic Pain, access fact sheets, register for webinars, and explore related research at https://www.iasp-pain.org/advocacy/global-year/neuropathic-pain-2026/.
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The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) is a global community of 7,000 members who are pain researchers, medical professionals, and people with lived experience. IASP publishes scientific pain research, supports the study of pain, the professional education of pain care professionals, and advocates for pain research and the human right to pain care.
Since 2004, IASP has led Global Year, an annual initiative that highlights a specific aspect of pain to raise awareness within the pain community and beyond, deepen knowledge, and drive meaningful progress. Each Global Year is led by volunteer co-chairs and supported by volunteer task force members, all experts in the selected topic. Global Year is also supported by IASP’s federations and chapters around the globe.
CONTACT: Lauren Hochman
PHONE: +1.202.856.7431
EMAIL: Media@IASP-pain.org