British Pain Society Themed Year 2026–2027: AI, Technology and Innovation in Pain Management
Every September, Pain Awareness Month provides an opportunity to reflect on the lives of the millions of people living with persistent pain and the professionals dedicated to improving their care. This year, the British Pain Society is delighted to launch the first of what we hope will become an annual themed year, running from September through to the following September.
Our inaugural theme is AI, Technology and Innovation in Pain Management.
Pain medicine has always evolved through innovation. From advances in neuroscience and pharmacology to imaging, neuromodulation and rehabilitation, progress has depended upon our willingness to embrace new ideas while maintaining a steadfast commitment to evidence-based practice and compassionate care.
Today we stand at another important moment. Artificial intelligence, digital health technologies, wearable devices, immersive technologies, remote monitoring and data-driven healthcare all have the potential to transform how we understand, assess and manage pain. They offer opportunities to improve diagnosis, personalise treatment, support self-management, streamline clinical services and accelerate research. At the same time, they raise important questions surrounding governance, bias, privacy, equity, transparency and trust.
Throughout the coming year, the British Pain Society will explore both the opportunities and the challenges presented by these emerging technologies. We will hear from clinicians, researchers, allied health professionals, psychologists, scientists, technologists, policymakers and, critically, people living with pain. Their diverse perspectives will help us examine how innovation can improve outcomes while ensuring that new technologies remain safe, ethical and centred on patients' needs.
This themed year is not simply about showcasing technology. It is about bringing together the people who will shape the future of pain management. We hope to foster collaborations between clinicians, academics, innovators, industry, early career researchers and those with lived experience, creating opportunities to learn from one another and to develop solutions that genuinely address the challenges faced in everyday practice.
Over the next twelve months you can expect themed editions of Pain News, podcasts, webinars, interviews, educational events and collaborative workshops, all focused on the future of pain management.
The Expert Patient and Carer Committee (EPCC) will also lead a monthly discussion article in the BPS Connections, bringing lived experience perspectives into the conversation alongside those of researchers, healthcare professionals and other experts.
We hope these activities will stimulate discussion, inspire research, support innovation and encourage the responsible adoption of technologies that improve the lives of people living with pain.
Innovation is never an end in itself. Our ambition is simple: to ensure that advances in technology translate into better, safer and more equitable care for everyone affected by pain.
We invite all members of the British Pain Society—and colleagues from across healthcare, academia, industry and the wider pain community—to join us throughout the year as we explore what the future of pain management could, and should, look like.