Pain research in focus when KI conference unites experts and patients
Researchers, clinicians, students, and patient representatives gathered at Karolinska Institutet for the 2025 KI Pain Network Conference, a full-day event dedicated to the latest advances in pain research and care.
The KI Pain Network (KIPN) Conference 2025, held on 11 November, brought together a diverse group of participants to discuss new findings in pain mechanisms, diagnostics, treatment, and the commercialisation of scientific discoveries. The event featured presentations from Karolinska Institutet researchers across several departments, as well as sessions that highlighted how basic science can be translated into clinical practice. Experts from KI Innovations AB also shared insights on how promising innovations can reach the market.
Societal outreach
A key part of the conference was the involvement of patient organisations. Birgitta Gustafsson, Vice Chair of Riksförbundet för fibromyalgi & långvarig smärta, and Johan Lock, Chair of Huvudvärksförbundet, served as invited speakers and presented their organisations' work while describing patient perspectives on chronic pain and headache disorders. Their contributions sparked active discussions among researchers and participants from other universities, focusing on factors that may help relieve pain.
The conference was organised by Saida Hadjab, Chair of the KI Pain Network and a researcher at the Department of Neuroscience. The event aimed to encourage interdisciplinary discussion, strengthen collaborations within KI and with external partners, and set priorities for future research and outreach in the field of pain.
“The mission of the KI Pain Network is to provide a unified platform that connects pain researchers across Karolinska Institutet,” said Saida Hadjab.
By bringing together different perspectives, the conference highlighted the importance of collaboration in tackling the challenges of headache disorders and chronic pain and improving patient care.
Under the KIPN Umbrella
The KIPN Steering Group includes Patrik Ernfors, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Saida Hadjab Department of Neuroscience, Camilla Svensson, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Malin Ernberg, Department of Dental Medicine, Karin Jensen, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Andrea Carmine Belin, Department of Neuroscience.
The Advisory Board consisting of Harald Lund, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Giancarlo de La Torre Canales, Department of Dental Medicine, Caroline Ran, Department of Neuroscience and KIPN coordinator Kaiwen Zhang, Department of Neuroscience, also represent a range of expertise within the university.
The KIPN network currently includes 25 faculty members and 151 registered participants. To join, please contact pain@ki.se.