Promises and challenges in developing neuroimaging biomarkers of pain

COEX 

Pain, a complex and subjective experience, poses significant challenges in its assessment and management, primarily due to its inherently subjective nature and the lack of objective measures. This talk presents an in-depth exploration of the promises and challenges associated with developing neuroimaging biomarkers of pain. Leveraging advances in neuroimaging and analysis techniques, such as fMRI and machine learning, it would be possible to provide objective, quantifiable measures of pain to help develop novel pain treatments and individualized pain assessment. However, this field faces notable challenges, including variability among individuals and sample heterogeneity in modeling pain. The talk concludes with a vision for the future of pain assessment and management, highlighting the pivotal role of neuroimaging biomarkers in enhancing our comprehension and treatment of pain.