The Scientific Center for Neuropathic Pain Aachen SCNAACHEN was recently established at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen. Under the joint leadership of Prof. Dr. Angelika Lampert and Prof. Dr. Ralf Hausmann, the center pursues the mission of strengthening neuropathic pain research in an interdisciplinary, translational, and mechanistic way. A first major milestone was the inaugural symposium, held on September 2 and 3, 2025, which officially introduced the new center and placed interdisciplinary exchange at its core.
More than 70 participants, including 19 speakers, two international keynote lecturers, and seven industry partners — among them Sophion, Nanion, and MRC — gathered at Roermonder Straße 110 to share the latest insights and ideas in neuropathic pain research. The event created numerous opportunities for interaction and networking between early-career researchers and experienced experts. The scientific discussions reflected the center’s broad scope — ranging from innovative laboratory and computational models to patient-centered research, psychological perspectives, and emerging therapeutic approaches.
The scientific program included presentations on molecular and cellular mechanisms, stem cell models of genetic pain syndromes, microbiome influences, and clinical research on small fiber neuropathy and pain in palliative care. The two keynote speakers provided special highlights: Prof. Dr. Susanne Becker (Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf) explored the close relationship between pain and reward processes, while Prof. Dr. Manuela Schmidt (University of Vienna) demonstrated how modern proteomic approaches can help decipher the molecular basis of chronic pain.
On the second day, eight different laboratory tours offered participants the opportunity to experience SCNAACHEN‘s research environment first-hand. The tours showcased experimental approaches to body illusions and peripheral nerve stimulation, clinical characterization and sensitivity testing, recordings from human pain fibers, patient-specific stem cell models, and automated electrophysiological methods for sodium channel analysis. The program also included insights into microbiome research, multisensory imaging in chronic pain, and automated patch-clamp demonstrations. This diversity illustrated how basic science, psychology, clinical practice, and computational development are closely intertwined at SCNAACHEN to advance the understanding and treatment of neuropathic pain.
With this successful start, the center looks forward to the next steps in further developing SCNAACHEN as a leading center for innovative pain research.
Here you can find some impressions of the event.
For further information, please contact SCN-Aachenukaachende.
We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support: Sophion, Nanion, MRC, Grünenthal, QST.labs, Axion, and Lotus BioPharma.
