Organized by the KFO 5001 Junior Council, the three-day event provided an interdisciplinary platform for scientific exchange, professional development, and networking in the field of pain research.

The scientific program combined keynote lectures by internationally renowned experts, interactive seminars, a panel discussion on research integrity, data blitz sessions, and a poster session showcasing the work of early-career scientists. The broad range of topics reflected the multidisciplinary nature of contemporary pain research, spanning molecular mechanisms, neuroimmune interactions, neuroimaging, translational models, and clinical perspectives.

In addition to the scientific program, participants had numerous opportunities to connect during networking events, including a guided tour of the Würzburg Residence wine cellar and a dinner. These activities fostered new collaborations and strengthened the growing network of young researchers dedicated to advancing the understanding of chronic pain.

The Summer School highlighted the commitment of KFO 5001 to promoting excellent early-career research and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. We sincerely thank all speakers, participants, organizers, and our sponsor Grünenthal for contributing to the success of this inspiring event, and especially the members of the Junior Council, whose dedication made the Summer School possible.

The meeting served as an important platform for exchanging the latest findings in both basic and translational research.

Members of KFO 5001 were actively represented at this year’s conference, contributing to the scientific program through multiple poster presentations by our early-career researchers as well as oral presentations by senior investigators highlighting key aspects of our ongoing work. These contributions reflected the breadth of our research activities and the strong engagement of the next generation of scientists within our consortium.

Senior members of our consortium, including Prof. Dr. Heike Rittner (MD), also played an active role in the meeting, further strengthening the visibility of KFO 5001 within the international research community and fostering valuable scientific exchange across disciplines.

The conference program, as outlined by the organizers, emphasized innovation, collaboration, and the translation of experimental findings into clinical practice. More details about the meeting can be found here: https://pnsociety.com/2026-pns-annual-meeting/ 

We are proud of the strong presence of KFO 5001 at this year’s meeting and look forward to continuing the discussions and collaborations initiated in this inspiring scientific environment.

During his visit, Prof. Grace will engage in scientific exchange with several principal investigators and researchers of KFO 5001 and the University Hospital Würzburg. The program includes visits to the Centre of Interdisciplinary Pain Medicine and other research facilities, individual meetings with faculty members, as well as a dedicated session with early career scientists to discuss current developments and future perspectives in neuroimmunology and pain research.

As part of the visit, Prof. Grace will give a lecture entitled “Dead cells and dangerous IgG: autoimmune signaling driving neuropathic pain” on June 10, 2026. In his presentation, he will explore how autoimmune signaling contributes to the development and persistence of neuropathic pain, focusing on neuroimmune interactions and emerging therapeutic approaches targeting chronic pain mechanisms.

Prof. Peter Grace is Associate Professor and Chair ad interim of the Department of Symptom Research, Director of the Preclinical Neurobehavioral Core, and Associate Lead of the Cancer Neuroscience Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA.

Dr. Grace completed his graduate training in Pharmacology at the University of Adelaide, Australia, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Neuroimmunology at the University of Colorado Boulder. His research focuses on neuroinflammatory mechanisms underlying chronic pain and their therapeutic modulation, with the aim of translating basic neuroimmune discoveries into precision medicine approaches.

His work has identified novel drug targets for chronic pain and contributed to the development of non-opioid therapeutic strategies. Dr. Grace has published extensively in leading international journals, including Science Translational Medicine, Nature Biotechnology, and PNAS. In addition to his scientific achievements, he is strongly committed to mentoring early career researchers and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in neuroimmunology and pain research.

Dr. Grace has received several prestigious awards, including the Rita Allen Foundation Scholar Award in Pain and the MD Anderson Excellence in Leadership Award. He also serves as Associate Editor for Brain, Behavior, and Immunity and Section Editor for Pain Reports.

The Hands-On Classes are designed to provide practical experience in the key methodologies applied within our research projects, while simultaneously fostering networking and close interaction with our Principal Investigators (PIs). Conducted in small groups, the courses allow participants to directly experience experimental and clinical techniques, discuss methods in depth, and gain personal feedback from experts in the field.

From pain diagnostics to machine learning

The scientific portfolio covers a broad spectrum of approaches, including preclinical behavioral models, clinical pain assessment (e.g., quantitative sensory testing and C-fiber analysis), advanced cell culture models, immunolabeling and imaging techniques, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) essentials, machine learning applications, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-based analyses, and electrophysiological methods.

In addition, newly introduced courses this year strengthen transferable skills, such as scientific project management, preparation and delivery of impactful scientific presentations, and the design of clear scientific illustrations and graphical abstracts.

By combining methodological training with direct exchange and networking opportunities, the Hands-On Classes provide an excellent platform to prepare our early career scientists for independent and collaborative research within the Clinical Research Unit.

We welcomed 32 newcomers across all career stages and launched the new funding period with a successful Kick-Off Meeting featuring invited speakers from Utrecht University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Two committees, Steering and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), were newly established, and the Junior Council was newly elected this year, continuing its important role in shaping community activities. Our researchers contributed 19 joint publications and presented their work at international meetings such as Peripheral Nerve Society Annual Meeting (PNS), International Congress on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG), Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting (SfN), and others.

Several members achieved notable successes:

• Dr. Anna-Lena Wießler received the SfN Trainee Professional Development Award,
• Dr. Julia Grüner was honored with a Poster Prize at NeuPSIG 2025,
• Dr. Ankita Rawat secured an internal Early Career Development Fellowship to initiate new research directions.

We also strengthened our international exchange, hosting six visiting scientists and contributing to the Sino-German Symposium “Translational Neuroscience of Approach and Avoidance” in Guangzhou.

The program continued to grow clinically as well: seven new Clinician Scientists joined KFO5001 between July and October, further integrating clinical expertise with experimental research.

Looking ahead, we are preparing for an active 2026. Hands-on classes for the coming year are already planned, with registration open and a few spots still available. We also invite members to save the date for the ResolvePAIN Summer School (14-16 July 2026) and to participate in the upcoming Career Mentor Program organized by our EDI Committee.

Finally, KFO5001 is now present on BlueSky, where we share news from across our community and highlight achievements from our members .

We thank all colleagues for their commitment and look forward to another inspiring year of collaborative research.
 

In his inspiring talk, Prof. Basbaum presented cutting-edge approaches to visualizing pain-related neural activity, offering valuable insights into the molecular and circuit-level mechanisms of pain and itch processing.

During his visit, Prof. Basbaum engaged in lively scientific discussions with principal investigators and early career scientists of the ResolvePAIN team, exploring opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange. He also visited some of the unit’s laboratories, gaining an overview of ongoing translational pain research projects at Würzburg.

Prof. Basbaum began his research in pain at McGill University. He earned his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania and conducted postdoctoral research with in London. His current research focuses on the peripheral and central nervous system mechanisms that contribute to chronic pain following tissue or nerve injury.

A distinguished scientist and leader in the pain research field, Prof. Basbaum is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in the United Kingdom. He is also a former Editor-in-Chief of PAIN, the journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).

His visit highlights the ongoing commitment of the ResolvePAIN to advancing translational pain research through international collaboration and scientific exchange.

This year’s congress is of special significance for our research community: Prof. Heike Rittner, MD, Scientific Coordinator of KFO 5001 ResolvePAIN, serves, together with Dr. Thomas Dresler (University of Tübingen), as President of the 2025 congress.

Curiosity as a driving force

Under the theme “Neugier auf Neuland”, the congress invites participants to embrace curiosity as a driving force of human discovery. As described in the official congress theme, “Curiosity is a catalyst for human understanding. It reflects the inherent urge to explore the unknown, to leave familiar paths, and to overcome established ways of thinking. The Pain Congress offers an opportunity to explore this ‘new territory’ not only theoretically, but also practically — with exciting contributions from various disciplines and countries.”

As one of the central figures shaping the scientific program, Prof. Rittner emphasizes the importance of collaborative and translational research in understanding and resolving chronic pain. Together with Dr. Dresler, she welcomes participants to this year’s congress in their official greeting, which you can read on the conference website (in German).

Five decades for pain research

This year’s meeting also marks a special milestone: the 50th anniversary of the German Pain Society (Deutsche Schmerzgesellschaft e.V.), a fitting occasion to celebrate decades of commitment to improving pain research, education, and patient care.

Contributions from the KFO

Researchers from our KFO 5001 will be actively represented at the congress, contributing with poster presentations and scientific talks that showcase the breadth and depth of our ongoing research efforts.

We are proud to see our work so prominently represented and look forward to the exchange of ideas that will continue to drive innovation in pain research.

Learn more about the congress here: https://deutscherschmerzkongress.de/