Clermont Auvergne University (France), McGill University (Canada), and the University of Louvain (Belgium) are joining forces to launch the first Translational Research School on Pain and Headaches, which will take place from November 20 to 22, 2025, in Clermont-Ferrand.

Headaches will be used as an example of translational research, and post-cancer, neuropathic, and osteoarthritic pain will also be addressed.

Faced with the complex challenges of chronic pain and headaches, this school aims to train a new generation of researchers capable of bridging the gap between basic research and clinical practice: lab <-> clinic. Participants will develop an integrated, interdisciplinary, and collaborative approach that is essential for translating scientific advances into concrete solutions for patients. This multidisciplinary program is designed to provide them with the skills needed to carry out ambitious translational research projects, leveraging technological innovations and big data to better understand, diagnose, and treat pain in a personalized way.

This program, delivered by leading international experts from France, Belgium, and Canada, offers a rigorous and integrated approach that combines basic and clinical research. It covers a wide range of disciplines—including neuroscience, pharmacology, advanced imaging techniques, and clinical trial methodology—promoting a multi-scale understanding of pain mechanisms, from molecular processes to complex neuronal circuits.

The school will offer:

• Interactive courses in preclinical and clinical research
• Translational case studies rooted in real clinical situations
• Small-group collaborative work under expert supervision
• Dynamic debates

This high-level training program is intended for:

• PhD students (from the 2nd year onward)
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Young clinicians engaged in translational pain research