2026 Australian Pain Society 46th Annual Scientific Meeting19 - 22 April 2026 | Adelaide Convention Centre, SA

The University of Adelaide

SA Australia

Dr Kelsi Dodds is a Senior Lecturer (School of Dentistry) and NECST Research Fellow (School of Pharmacy and Biomedicine) at Adelaide University. Her primary expertise is in visceral neurophysiology, determining the structure and function of nerve pathways between the pelvic organs and central nervous system, and how these pathways change in disease.  Currently, her projects involve animal models and clinical trials of endometriosis, to better understand and treat endometriosis-associated pain.

Alyra Biotech, and Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia

SA Australia

Susan Evans is a gynaecologist, pain physician, PhD, Founder and Chair of the Pelvic Pain Foundation of Australia, and CEO of Alyra Biotech. In 2025 she published a new book for teenagers with period and pelvic pain entitled ‘When Periods Hurt’.

Rutgers University
USA

Mark is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Rutgers University, New Jersey, where his research program explores the neural mechanisms that transform touch into pain. His work focuses on how spinal and brain circuits process tactile signals under healthy and pathological conditions and has revealed key insights into the organization of spinal circuits and the mechanisms underlying touch-evoked pain. Ultimately, his program aims to advance fundamental understanding of somatosensory neurobiology and uncover potential therapeutic strategies for chronic pain.

Flinders University

SA Australia

Dr Luke Grundy is a discovery scientist and Head of the NeuroUrology Research Group at Flinders University. His research sits at the intersection of neuroscience, urology, and oncology, with a focus on identifying novel therapeutic targets and developing next-generation treatments for debilitating bladder pain, including pain arising from cancer treatments.

Flinders University

SA Australia

Benjamin Hoy is a PhD candidate in the Pain and Sensory Cell Biology Lab at Flinders University, where he investigates molecular signatures of chronic post-surgical pain. By leveraging multi-omics approaches with neuron-based biosensors, he aims to identify blood biosignatures and develop an objective diagnostic tool to improve pain management.

Monash University

VIC Australia

Wendy is the head of the Pain Mechanisms lab at Monash University, in the Department of Physiology and Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. Wendy and her team investigate changes in the nervous system that drive and maintain chronic pain states. Wendy’s work focuses on the excitability and control of neuronal signalling within spinal cord pain pathways to understand the origin and persistence of pathological pain. Her goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets and more effective treatments for neuropathic pain conditions.