APS2025: Annual Scientific Meeting Travel Grant Recipient Report

Amy McNeilage

Amy McNeilage is a PhD candidate in The University of Sydney’s Medical School with expertise in qualitative methodology. Her research seeks to identify and mitigate harms associated with gabapentinoid use.

Face Time and Fresh Perspectives: Reflections on APS 2025

Thanks to the generous support of the Australian Pain Society (APS), I had the opportunity to attend and present at the 45th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) held in April at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park. The travel grant helped to cover my costs and enabled me to participate fully in what was a thought-provoking, energising, and memorable event.

This year, I was fortunate to contribute to the scientific programme in two ways: chairing and presenting in a topical session and sharing a poster outlining some of my PhD research. The topical session I convened, Gabapentinoids for chronic pain – game changer or looming crisis?, brought together diverse perspectives on the contested role of these drugs in pain management. With representation from pain medicine, clinical pharmacology, and addiction, the session examined both the appropriate uses and potential risks of gabapentinoid prescribing. Attendance was strong, and the level of audience engagement well exceeded my expectations. Dozens of questions poured in, and many attendees continued the conversation in the hallway after the session wrapped up. It was a career highlight to facilitate such a dynamic exchange and to see the topic resonate so widely. Several meaningful contacts and potential collaborations have already emerged from these discussions.

My poster, presenting findings from a systematic review of professional perspectives on gabapentinoid use and dependence, also prompted some insightful conversations, particularly with clinicians who shared their “real world” experiences. More broadly, I was very impressed by the quality of the posters this year. The diversity and depth of research on display were impressive and a testament to the vibrancy of our field. Some of the most meaningful conversations happened not in formal sessions, but while browsing the exhibition hall or queuing for coffee.

This was my fourth time attending the APS ASM, and I’ve come to cherish it as one of the most valuable events in my academic calendar. My first was in Hobart in 2022, when I knew almost no one and felt somewhat daunted by the scale of it all. Since then, and especially after attending the painSTAR program in the Barossa last year, I feel very much part of the APS community. The meeting is not only incredibly well organised – shout out to Alex and her team at DC Conference & Association Management – but also one of the most collegial and welcoming conferences I have attended. As someone who works remotely most of the time, APS has been instrumental in helping me feel connected to the wider pain research community in Australia.

One of the highlights this year was finally meeting in person one of my PhD supervisors, Bridin Murnion. Bridin is a powerhouse of clinical insight and research expertise, with a sharp intellect matched by an equally sharp sense of humour. It was such a pleasure to finally connect in person and share a laugh between ASM sessions. I was also glad to connect with my colleague Stephanie Mathieson. Despite working at the same university and sharing similar interests in opioids, gabapentinoids, and deprescribing, we had never met until she introduced herself at the conference. I am grateful she did, and I have no doubt we will collaborate in future. Another personal highlight was seeing my fellow painSTAR alumni present their work. The quality and impact of their presentations were inspiring, and it was a joy to cheer them on.

By the end of the conference, my phone was full of half-typed notes – new study ideas, papers to read, and people to contact. I always leave APS feeling more motivated, more curious, and more connected to my peers. I am already looking forward to seeing everyone again in Adelaide next year.

Declaration: Amy McNeilage has nothing to declare.