Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months and occurring on 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 its high prevalence, effective pharmacological treatments remain limited, highlighting a critical need for non‑pharmacological therapies that target the underlying mechanisms of pain.

FRESCO4NoPain 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 the need for 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 aims to deliver a safe, accessible, and scalable neuromodulation treatment that directly targets the brain mechanisms sustaining chronic pain. This non‑pharmacological approach supports key EU priorities by reducing reliance on medication, decreasing healthcare burdens, and promoting more sustainable long‑term pain management. By advancing brain‑based biomarkers and demonstrating the therapeutic value of modulating maladaptive neural oscillations, FRESCO4NoPain seeks to shift chronic pain treatment toward more precise and personalised care across Europe.

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

With a strong balance of academic, non‑academic, and industry partners, the consortium encompasses expertise spanning pain neurocircuits, neuromodulation, experimental pain models, biomedical engineering, clinical research, and translational medicine.

Learn more about our consortium members below: