The winners of the BPS Award 2024 (clinical science) are Dr Liedewij Bogaert and Dr Heleen Marynissen (KU Leuven). Both presented their work at the BPS Congress on Saturday 1st June 2024 and won EUR2500 each.

Dr Bogaert presented her research work on 'The infinity loop of healthcare innovation: Development of an integrated rehabilitation pathway for lumbar fusion surgery through design thinking'.

Dr Marynissen presented her research work on 'Increased TRPA1 functionality in patients with oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.

The winner of the BPS Award 2023 is Dr Chiara Leu (UC Louvain). Dr Leu briefly presented her research work on 'The role of ongoing oscillations in pain perception. Absence of modulation by a concomitant arithmetic task' at the BPS Congress on 3rd June 2023 and won EUR5000.

The winner of the BPS Award 20222 is Dr Lore Dams (UAntwerp). Dr Dams briefly presented her research work on 'Effect of pain neuroscience education after breast cancer surgery on pain-, physical-, and emotional functioning: a double-blinded randomized control trial (EduCan trial)' at the BPS Congress on 11th June 2022 and won EUR5000.

The winners of the BPS Award 2021 (basic science) are Dr Katharina Held and Dr Roberta Gualdani. Dr Held presented her research work on 'Redox modulation of the pain sensor channel TRPM3'. Dr Gualdani presented her work on 'Trigeminal neuralgia mutation A931T produced gating pore current in the TRPM7 channel' at the BPS Congress on 11th June 2022. They were each awarded EUR2500.

The winner of the research prize is Ms Lisa Goudman (VUB).

The paper by Lisa Goudman focuses on the outcome of spinal cord stimulation with a focus on global measures, i.e. evaluating patients from a holistic point of view by taking functioning, medication use, quality of life and other functionality measures into account besides pain intensity scores. Lisa Goudman was awarded 5,000€ and will present her work at the next Annual Scientific Congress.

The winner of the research prize is Dr Camille Vanderclausen (UCL). The paper by Dr. Vanderclausen focuses the interaction between somatotopic and spatiotopic representation of nociceptive stimuli. The jury was impressed by the clear design of the study contrasting normal subjects with a group of early blinds in an experiment exploring locating a threatening stimulus in its environment. In an easily understandable paradigm, it could be concluded that the way we perceive nociceptive stimuli is shaped by early visual experience. Dr Vanderclausen presented shortly her work at the Annual Scientific Congress on Saturday 18th May 2019 and won EUR 5000.

The winner of the research prize is Mr Dimitri Van Ryckeghem (University of Gent and University of Luxemburg). Mr Van Ryckeghem's paper 'Task interference and distraction efficacy in patients with fibromyalgia' - 'An experimental investigation' focuses on a potentially reduced top-down control over pain in fibromyalgia patients. In a controlled study, it was shown that task performance of the FM patients is slower compared to controls, but that there was no difference in the magnitude of the interference- and distractions efficacy. In conclusion the theory that attention modulates pain experience was confirmed, but no evidence was found for an altered attention processing of pain in FM patients.

Mr Van Ryckeghem presented his work shortly at the congress on 9th June 2018 and won €5000.

The winner of the research prize is Mr Simon Desiderio, ULB. Mr Desiderio is studying the molecular mechanisms of sensory neurogenesis in the mouse. The obtained results revealed an important novel player controlling the differentiation of the neurons that are specialized in pain perception. Mr Desiderio presented his work shortly at the congress on 10th June 2017 and won €5000. The work by Mr Desiderio has been published in 2019 in the journal Cell Reports.

The winner of the research prize is Dr Giulia Liberati (UCL). Dr Liberati briefly presented her work on “Pain-related gamma-band oscillations in the human insula”, at the BPS Congress on 4th June 2016 and won €5000.

The annual research prize of the Belgian Pain Society was attributed this year to Prof. Joris Vriens.

Dr. Vriens is assistant professor in the Dept of Oran Systems and Head of the lab for Gynaecology & Experimental Obstetrics at the KU Leuven. His work entitled "TRPM3 as a target for treatment of inflammatory pain” represents a proof-of-concept, extending on his earlier work and illustrates the role of TRPM3 as a nociceptor in the somatosensory system. The results of this ongoing and very promising study highlight TRPM3 as a potential target for the development of new clinical applications/treatment on humans.