The European Federation of IASP® chapters (EFIC^®) is a multidisciplinary professional organisation in the field of pain research and medicine, consisting of the 35 so-called chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP^®), which are the IASP approved official National Pain Societies in each country. Established in 1993, EFIC’s constituent chapters represent Pain Societies from 35 European countries and close to 20,000 physicians, basic researchers, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists and other healthcare professionals across Europe, who are involved in pain management and pain research.

EFIC’s aims are to advance research, education, clinical management and professional practice related to pain, and to serve as an authoritative, scientifically based resource concerning policy issues related to pain and its management“Pain in Europe VII” in Hamburg (21-24 September 2011) is the 7th EFIC Congress since 1995. EFIC Congresses have become a popular forum in Europe attracting over 4,000 participants in 2011. Congress participants are mainly from Europe, but with delegates from more than 75 countries worldwide, the Congress can be considered the major international educational exchange on pain issues of this year 2011.