As part of the "Children's University" program at the University Würzburg, approximately 600 young aspiring students gathered on Saturday, April 29th, 2023, in the university's main auditorium. A lively and interactive discussion about why we experience pain, how it arises and what can be done about it took place. Children from 6 to 13 years old listened attentively to the speaker's explanations of ways to eliminate pain, which was impressively demonstrated with a "magic paste" on a brave volunteer.

Following that, Dr. Reinhold, MD, answered the diverse questions from the curious attendees, and finally said goodbye to a group of enthusiastic young pain experts.

Dr. Ann-Kristin Reinhold, MD, works in the Z-Project of the KFO 5001 ResolvePAIN, conducting biosample analyses, and was recently awarded the prestigious DGAI grant from the Fresenius Foundation for her research.

PhD Candidates are eligible for these funds if they plan to finish their doctoral thesis between October 2023 and June 2024. Postdocs are eligible if they aim to play a more prominent role in the second funding part of the KFO 5001. Projects should cover the main goals of the KFO 5001 and pain resolution. External applications are possible.

Funds from ResolvePAIN2.0 will cover to expenses to conduct preliminary experiments and pursue their own research topics with a maximum funding of 20.000 Euro for 6 months.

Expenses may include:

• Supplies and consumables
• Student research assistants (HiWis)
• Travel costs
• Publication fees

Please submit your application by 31.05.2023 via email to resolvepain@ ukw.de

• Completed attached application form.
• Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages) including most important references.
• Cover letter
• Letter of recommendation from your current primary supervisor
• Detailed research proposal and work programme - not exceeding 4 pages!
  Contents: introduction, main research questions/objectives, work plan incl. time schedule, long-term perspective, financial plan
  Layout: Regular A4, Arial, font size 11, spacing 1.5+

Major criteria will be the scientific excellence, the soundness of the submitted proposal and a convincing perspective for a successful academic career as evident from the graduate’s scientific track record including publications. Proposals will also be rated for their additional value to research of the KFO5001.

The applications will be reviewed by one PI from the KFO5001 ResolvePAIN and one member of the GSLS Section Neurosciences. The speaker and the scientific coordinator of the KFO5001together with the GSLS representative will evaluate the reviews and decide on the requested funds from ResolvePAIN2.0 by 31.06.2023. Stipends should be planned so that they can start between 01.07.2023 and 01.12.2023. Beneficiaries are expected to present their results at the DFG on-site review in 2024.

The secluded space outside the university was chosen to enhance exchange on the current status of the projects's work programs, discussion on developments and necessary changes in projects and successful developments on the path to therapies.

Three international experts were invited, Prof. Claus Lamm, University of Vienna, Prof. Luda Diatchenko, McGill University, Canada, and Dr. Sara Jager, University of Copenhagen, allowing young ResolvePAIN researchers to exchange scientific progress and new technologies in the field of pain research. In addition to lectures given by the international experts and the principal investigators of the Clinical Research Unit ResolvePAIN, four project-specific workshops, two poster sessions and a novel form of communication - a science slam - also took place during the retreat, giving the young researchers, medical researchers in the GSLS and Clinician Scientists in the IZKF in the pain medicine track the opportunity to discuss and present their work.

^{Photo 1: Group photo of all retreat participants on the stairway to Banz Monastery. 
Photo 2: PhD student Ankita Rawat (left) discusses her research results from Project 8 with Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Nurcan Üçeyler, Project Z, and Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Cordula Matthies, Project 2 (in the background). Rawat was awarded the second prize for the best poster at the retreat}. 
^{Photo 3: Presentation and discussion of the CRPS/CPIP study of Project Z in the large conference room. 
Photo 4: Guest speaker Sara Jager PhD from the University of Copenhagen between Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Claudia Sommer (left) , spokesperson of the research group, and Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Heike Rittner, scientific director of the research group.}

In addition to providing training on specific methodologies that are being applied in the projects, during the courses participants are invited to actively engage in discussions and experiments. The courses have also proved to be an excellent opportunity to foster exchange between groups.  

Photos of 3 courses that took place in 2022 

Course: Recordings of ion channels

Conceived by Prof. Dr. Carmen Villmann, held by Prof. Dr. Camen Villmann and Dr. Natascha Schäfer, research assistant

Doctoral student Maximilian Koch observes hippocampal neurons in micro-fluid chambers under the fluorescence microscope. The patch-clamp method was used here for whole-cell electrophysiological recordings from these neurons. Prof. Dr. Carmen Villmann explains the different possibilities for the derivation of action potentials and the recording of current-voltage correlations in voltage-gated ion channels or currents recording after agonist application during the activation of ligand-gated ion channels.

Course: Measuring pain behaviour in animals

Conceived by Prof. M.D. Alexander Brack, held by doctoral student Adel Ben-Kraiem and Dr. Jeremy Chen, research associate

Doctoral student Adel Ben-Kraiem explains the so-called manual Frey test to M.D. Anna Widder (left), and doctoral student Ankita Rawar (right). This test is one of the most commonly used methods for investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms of pain. During the course, basic concepts of pain perception and the use of rodents in basic pain research were also discussed.

Course: Nociceptive behaviour in Drosophila

Conceived by Prof. Dr. Robert Kittel and group leader Dr. Mareike Selcho, held by Dr. Mareike Selcho, Ricarda Hesse and Sarah Stopp

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is used as an in vivo system to identify molecules involved in pain resolution because of its accessibility at the genetic, cellular and neuronal levels, but at the same time high genetic similarity to mammals. The participants of the course given by Dr. Mareike Selcho, Ricarda Hesse and Sarah Stopp, from Leipzig University, had the opportunity to perform nociceptive behavioural experiments with Drosophila larvae (photos). In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of using Drosophila in pain research were discussed.