PRESENTATION
The fiftieth anniversary of the first world congress
on Pain Medicine (IASP congress) offers a significant
opportunity to increase awareness among doctors
and patients about this critical issue. The ‘Fondazione
Paolo Procacci’ sought to participate in this occasion,
requesting support from the ‘Fondazione Menarini’ - a
key institution dedicated to advancing various scientific
aspects of medicine - for organizing a commemorative
event. The proposal was swiftly accepted due to the
topic’s critical importance. We then reached out to
potential speakers interested in contributing to this
important congress from both scientific and social
perspectives. Initially, we contacted the President
of the IASP to recognize the significance of that first
groundbreaking event. The enthusiastic response from
the faculty marked the first undeniable success of our
proposal.
The scientific program, designed from a “meet the
expert” perspective, allocates each speaker 30 minutes
to discuss the key aspects that have guided their
research careers from both historical and scientific
viewpoints. We ensured the participation of speakers
covering the historical evolution of Pain Medicine.
We are especially grateful to those who accepted our
invitation, notably John Loeser, for sharing pioneering
insights into the scientific foundations of pain study.
Only by fully appreciating the roots of this field can we
understand how the pathophysiology and therapy of
pain have evolved. Many of us have witnessed the rapid
scientific advancements in this branch of medicine,
which Descartes initially approached rudimentarily,
but which has experienced fantastic growth over the
last five decades, allowing for a significantly improved
understanding and treatment of patients suffering from
pain.
Through this commemorative event, we aim to
summarize the essential aspects of scientific evolution,
leaving an important legacy for new generations
and encouraging them to pursue a path of cultural
advancement that will, we hope, one day lead to the
eradication of one of humanity’s greatest challenges:
PAIN.
Giustino Varrassi and Pierangelo Geppetti