APS National Plenary Speakers
Tracks
Arena 1B
| Wednesday, April 14, 2027 |
| 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM |
| Arena 1B |
Speaker
Dr Yann Quidé
Senior Research Fellow
UNSW Sydney
Bonica Lecture: Pain, Trauma, and the Brain: From Early Adversity to Chronic Pain
3:15 PM - 4:00 PMPresentation Overview
Stressful and traumatic experiences can have lasting effects on both mental and physical health, including vulnerability to chronic pain. These experiences may leave measurable signatures in brain structure and connectivity, particularly when they occur during critical periods of development. But how do these neural differences relate to the emergence and persistence of pain later in life? Our research explores the biological pathways linking stress, trauma, and chronic pain, with a particular focus on neural markers that may help us understand why vulnerability to persistent pain develops, and endures, across the lifespan.
Biography
Yann Quidé is an internationally recognised neuroimaging researcher and Senior Research Fellow at UNSW Sydney, and the Centre for Pain IMPACT (Neuroscience Research Australia), with expertise in stress-related neurobiology across chronic pain, trauma, spinal cord injury and severe mental illness. He leads the Neuroimaging, Neurobiology and Mental Health Program within the UNSW NeuroRecovery Research Hub, chairs the ENIGMA-Chronic Pain consortium, supporting large-scale international collaboration in pain neuroimaging research, and is a current Executive Member of the IASP Pain & Trauma Special Interest Group.
Prof Andrew Briggs
Professor
Curtin University
Tess Crammond Lecture: Reimagining Healthy Ageing: Why Pain Matters
2:30 PM - 3:15 PMPresentation Overview
Healthy ageing is not simply about living longer—it is about maintaining the ability to do what matters. Pain is among the leading barriers to that goal, yet remains under-recognised in policy and health system design globally. This plenary will examine emerging evidence and global developments that position pain as a critical component of healthy ageing, highlighting opportunities to redesign health systems that support resilience, function and wellbeing throughout life.
Biography
Professor Briggs has combined a career of health policy and systems research; health policy and systems improvement; and clinical practice. This unique portfolio mix provides him with skills and real-world insights into health systems strengthening from the clinical coalface through to system-level reform. The focus of Professor Briggs’ research and policy work has centred on health systems strengthening, oriented around the delivery of equitable care for people with musculoskeletal health conditions and persistent pain across the lifecourse. The work aims to bridge the gap between health policy and research by working with Government and non-government partners to evaluate the development and implementation of health policy and health services relevant to musculoskeletal health. He holds a full Professor position at Curtin University, Australia; is a clinical consultant to WorkSafe Victoria; and served a senior consultant to the World Health Organization in musculoskeletal health and healthy ageing 2017-2025.
