The NIH and the NIH HEAL Initiative is excited to invite you to the inaugural PURPOSE Meeting, which will be an in-person event at the National Harbor in Maryland from May 11-13, 2023. The goal of this meeting is to provide learning experiences for early-stage pain researchers funded by the NIH and connect them with NIH-funded mentors outside of their home institutions.
Presentations will center on the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms of pain to encourage the exchange of information across the spectrum of pain research. There will also be talks focused on research skills and communication training. Early-career investigators will receive proctored feedback from NIH-funded mentors and NIH program staff regarding poster presentations and specific aims pages.
On-site career development workshops will provide a space for trainees and mentors to grow their professional skills.
Finally, perspectives from people with lived experience of pain will be highlighted to ground these learning experiences in the reason that they matter most – improving care and quality of life for people affected by pain.
A strong and diverse workforce of multidisciplinary pain experts is crucial for the discovery of effective and equitable pain care solutions. For this reason, efforts that support the pain research workforce are a high priority for the NIH Helping End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®