Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months and occurring most days. It is the most prevalent medical condition worldwide, affecting one in five adults. Chronic pain is the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years lost among all medical conditions, making it a major medical, scientific, economic, and societal challenge Despite the prevalence of chronic pain, effective pharmacological treatments remain limited, highlighting a critical need for non-pharmacological therapies that target the underlying mechanisms of pain.

The FRESCO4NoPain project is pioneering research into the potential of non-invasive brain neuromodulation as a novel treatment strategy for chronic pain. As a therapeutic approach, non‑invasive neuromodulation is uniquely positioned to address chronic pain because it can safely and precisely influence the brain’s electrical activity without medication.

By modulating dysfunctional neural oscillations and network dynamics that sustain chronic pain, neuromodulation has the potential to restore healthier brain function, reduce pain perception, and promote long‑term relief. This makes it an especially promising option at a time when effective, non-pharmacological treatments are urgently needed.

FRESCO4NoPain could offer a safe, accessible, and scalable neuromodulation treatment that directly targets the brain mechanisms sustaining chronic pain. This non‑pharmacological approach supports EU priorities by reducing reliance on medication, easing healthcare burdens, and promoting more sustainable pain management.

By advancing brain‑based biomarkers and demonstrating the value of modulating maladaptive oscillations, FRESCO4NoPain aims to move chronic pain treatment toward more precise and personalised care across Europe.

The FRESCO4NoPain Consortium brings together world‑leading pain and neuroscience experts, innovative MedTech companies, and key knowledge actors and end‑users. United by a shared ambition, the consortium aims to train the next generation of pain scientists to tackle the unmet challenges of chronic pain.

With a strong balance of academic and industry partners, the consortium covers expertise ranging from pain neurocircuits, neuromodulation, and experimental pain models to biomedical engineering, clinical research, and translational medicine. 

Learn more about our consortium partners below: