- The University of Santiago will host the event ‘PAINLESS Project: Challenges in the management of chronic pain in the cross-border territory Galicia-North of Portugal’, next Friday, June 6th, from 9.30am to 6pm.
- Collaboration programmes such as INTERREG Spain-Portugal (POCTEP) can support the creation of cross-border pain care networks.
- Between 20% and 30% of adults in the EU suffer from chronic pain.
- The conference will be free of charge until full capacity is reached.
Brussels. 26/05/2025. The Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Santiago de Compostela will host the Symposium ‘PAINLESS Project: Challenges in the management of chronic pain in the cross-border territory Galicia-North of Portugal’ on Friday 6 June 2025, from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm. The event, which will bring together national and European experts, will address the challenges in the management of chronic pain, from the perspective of all the agents involved, and will create a space for debate to share innovative strategies and projects in this field.
The conference will be structured in working tables and networking sessions, with the participation of health professionals, patient representatives, innovation and training agencies in health services together with companies from the health, pharmaceutical and technology sectors focused on innovative solutions, as well as those responsible for health policies in the Euroregion and representatives of innovation programmes such as Horizon Europe and Interreg, in addition to regional political authorities.
The following topics will be addressed: Current situation of pain management in the cross-border area; EU funds for research and innovation in chronic pain; challenges and needs of health professionals; proposals for improving coordination between services (clinical guidelines); analysis of barriers to the implementation of the biomedical model. Role of pain training; and co-creation of innovative solutions: building bridges between patients and professionals.
Painless Project
The event, of great scientific, medical and strategic relevance for territorial cooperation, takes place in the framework of the communication and dissemination actions of the Painless project funded by the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme. The European project seeks to understand the mechanisms underlying cancer-related pain and provide an alternative to pharmacological relief. PAINLESS uses an innovative and evidence-based approach to investigate a novel, cost-effective, home-based intervention to control cancer-related pain through neuromodulation.
Coordinated by the University of Santiago de Compostela, the PAINLESS project consortium consists of more than 20 institutions from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Switzerland. Partners include academic and research organisations, health services and institutions, software companies, dissemination and communication organisations, and non-profit organisations focusing on patient involvement and health policy.
Between 20% and 30% of adults in the EU suffer from chronic pain
Chronic pain is a significant public health problem in the EU, affecting a considerable proportion of the population and having both personal and economic implications. In this respect, according to various pan-European studies and surveys, it is estimated that between 20% and 30% of adults in the EU suffer from chronic pain.
The conference on 6 June will be an opportunity for cross-border networking in line with the objectives of the Interreg programme, promoting collaboration between agents in Galicia and Northern Portugal. It will address the importance of chronic pain management, a condition that not only affects the physical well-being of the patient, but also impacts their mental health, social life, work productivity and personal and family economy.
To attend the conference, which is free until full capacity is reached, please register via this link: https://www.eventbrite.es/e/painless-retos-en-el-manejo-del-dolor-cronico-tickets-1353362647109?aff=oddtdtcreator