International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

What International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) does

IASP (International Association for the Study of Pain) is a nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1973 and headquartered in Washington, DC, dedicated to supporting pain research, education, clinical treatment, and patient outcomes across all pain conditions. The organization serves a global community of more than 6,000 scientists, clinicians, healthcare providers, patients, caregivers, and policymakers in 125 countries, organized through 98 national chapters, four regional federations (ASEAPS, EFIC, FEDELAT, SARPS), and 24 Special Interest Groups.

IASP's core products and services include the PAIN journal (peer-reviewed, monthly, Impact Factor 5.5, ranked 6th in Anesthesiology), the open access PAIN Reports journal (Impact Factor 3.1), the Pain Research Forum online community, the PERC online learning platform, the IASP Connect member network, and standardized assessment tools such as the Faces Pain Scale-Revised. The association also publishes curricula for nine healthcare disciplines, hosts the biennial World Congress on Pain (2026 edition scheduled October 26–30), runs annual Global Year advocacy campaigns (2026 focused on Neuropathic Pain), maintains the Early Career Network, and convenes the GAPPA patient advocacy alliance.

IASP's revenue model combines individual membership dues (income-tiered at $75–$200+ annually, plus $20 per SIG) with publication revenue from PAIN subscriptions, advertising, and reprints, PAIN Reports article processing charges, World Congress registration and sponsor/exhibitor fees, corporate sponsorship and advertising, grants and fellowships, and donations. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on professional networks, peer referrals, chapter involvement, SIG participation, and flagship congress attendance to drive membership acquisition and retention.

Name

International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)

Legal name

International Association for the Study of Pain

Website

https://iasp-pain.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IASP is a nonprofit professional membership association serving 6,000+ pain researchers, clinicians, healthcare providers, patients, and policymakers across 125 countries through journals, education, advocacy, and the World Congress on Pain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Affairs, Scientific Communications & HEOR FSP (HLAGAOAG)

Keywords

• Pain research association
• Professional medical membership
• Peer-reviewed journals
• Continuing pain education
• Healthcare provider training

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues based on income level tiers. Dues range from $75 to $200+ per year depending on member income bracket. Special Interest Group (SIG) membership adds $20 per SIG annually.
2. Publication Revenue (PAIN Journal): The official PAIN journal is published 12 times annually. While available as a membership benefit, the journal also generates revenue through advertising, reprints, and potentially institutional subscriptions.
3. PAIN Reports Journal: Fully open access journal charging article processing fees (APCs) for publication. Fees vary by article type with IASP members receiving discounted rates.
4. Events and Conferences: Revenue generated from World Congress on Pain registration fees, sponsor exhibitions, and event advertising and support opportunities.
5. Corporate Sponsorship and Advertising: Partnership opportunities include exhibiting at conferences, advertising in journals and publications, sponsoring grants and fellowships, and supporting GAPPA initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

IASP is a nonprofit professional membership association that delivers peer-reviewed scientific journals (PAIN and PAIN Reports), online continuing education through the Pain Education Resource Center (PERC), member networking via IASP Connect, multidisciplinary pain curricula, and the biennial World Congress on Pain. It serves a global community of 6,000+ scientists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals across 125 countries with advocacy programs, research grants, and patient resources.

Product overview

IASP operates as a professional membership association offering a portfolio of publications, education platforms, and member services for the global pain research and clinical community. The core offerings include two peer-reviewed journals (PAIN and PAIN Reports), the Pain Research Forum online community, the Pain Education Resource Center (PERC) for continuing education, and IASP Connect for member networking. Additional services include curricula for healthcare disciplines, graduate opportunity listings, the World Congress on Pain event, annual Global Year advocacy campaigns, assessment tools like the Faces Pain Scale-Revised, and programs such as the Global Mentoring Pilot Program and Early Career Network. These products collectively serve researchers, clinicians, healthcare providers, patients, and policymakers in the pain field.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PAIN: Official journal of IASP, a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal published monthly (12 times/year) with an Impact Factor of 5.5, ranking 6th in Anesthesiology
• PAIN Reports
• Pain Research Forum (PRF)
• PERC - Pain Education Resource Center
• Global Alliance of Partners for Pain Advocacy (GAPPA)
• Early Career Network (ECN)
• RELIEF News
• Pain Researcher
• IASP Connect
• IASP Global Mentoring Pilot Program

Products and services

• PAIN Journal The official peer-reviewed monthly journal of IASP, published 12 times per year, featuring original research on the nature, mechanisms, and treatment of pain. It is ranked 6th in Anesthesiology globally with an Impact Factor of 5.5 and reaches 7,000+ readers through membership. Designed for pain researchers, clinicians, and scientists.
• PAIN Reports An online, fully open-access multidisciplinary journal published 6 times yearly, providing a global, rapid, and accessible forum for clinical, applied, and basic pain research. Charges article processing fees (APCs) with IASP members receiving discounted rates. Impact Factor 3.1.
• Pain Research Forum (PRF) IASP's premier virtual meeting place for investigators working to translate basic neurobiology into new treatments for chronic pain, providing news, analysis, commentary, discussion, and resources for the international pain research community.
• Pain Education Resource Center (PERC) Online learning platform providing on-demand continuing education for pain professionals, including IASP World Congress recordings, webinars, and seminars. Exclusively available to IASP members.
• IASP Connect Online hub for pain researchers and clinicians worldwide to exchange ideas, share work, ask questions, and network with experts. Exclusive to IASP members.
• World Congress on Pain Major international conference bringing together multidisciplinary global pain experts featuring keynotes, symposia, SIG sessions, and networking. The 2026 World Congress on Pain is scheduled for October 26-30, 2026.
• Global Year Campaign Annual advocacy initiative focusing on specific aspects of pain to increase awareness. The 2026 Global Year examines neuropathic pain and its impact, with previous years covering topics including sex and gender disparities, integrative pain care, back pain, and pain management in low- and middle-income settings.
• Faces Pain Scale - Revised (FPS-R) Pediatric pain assessment tool recommended for ages 4-16, easy to administer and requiring no special equipment except photocopied faces.
• RELIEF News PRF's companion site that translates the latest pain research findings into accessible language suitable for patients and the wider public.
• Early Career Network (ECN) Network supporting early career IASP members including trainees and early career professionals, providing webinars, mentoring programs, and networking events.
• IASP Curricula Comprehensive pain education curricula for healthcare professionals including interprofessional, psychology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, medicine, dentistry, social work, and pharmacy disciplines. Developed by IASP Education Initiatives Working Group and available free of charge.
• IASP Global Mentoring Pilot Program Program connecting IASP members with experienced mentors in the pain field to support professional growth, career development, knowledge exchange, and research capacity building.
• Global Alliance of Partners for Pain Advocacy (GAPPA) Partnership bringing together patient advocates, patient organizations, scientists, clinicians, healthcare providers, and policymakers to create better outcomes in pain awareness, understanding, research, and management worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• PAIN journal Impact Factor of 5.5, ranked 6th in Anesthesiology globally
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ASEAPS (Association of Southeast Asian Pain Societies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASEAPS is a federation of IASP chapters working to promote the study and management of pain in the ASEAN region. It represents six chapters and collaborates with IASP on research capacity building initiatives, including the Global Mentoring Pilot Program focused on Southeast Asia.
• EFIC (European Pain Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly the European Federation of IASP Chapters, EFIC is a multidisciplinary professional organization consisting of 37 IASP chapters in Europe. It coordinates European pain research and medicine, including hosting the 15th Congress of the European Pain Federation EFIC in April 2027.
• FEDELAT (Federación Latinoamericana de Asociaciones para el estudio del Dolor)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Latin American Federation of Associations for the Study of Pain works with science, unity, and cooperation to advance pain study and treatment across Latin American countries.
• SARPS (South Asian Regional Pain Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSARPS supports member countries in making effective, accessible, affordable, and ethical pain care available to those suffering from pain conditions throughout the South Asian region.
• GAPPA (Global Alliance of Partners for Pain Advocacy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAPPA brings together patient advocates, patient organizations, scientists, clinicians, healthcare providers, and policymakers to create better outcomes in awareness, understanding, research, teaching, assessment, and management of pain worldwide.
• IASP National Chapters (98 chapters)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor98 independently-operated national and regional chapters in 125 countries share IASP's vision and provide local access to education, leadership, and networking opportunities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Association of Southeast Asian Pain Societies (ASEAPS): Federation of ASEAN IASP chapters. Directly comparable as a regional pain society federation coordinating pain research, education, and advocacy across six Southeast Asian countries.
• Federación Latinoamericana de Asociaciones para el estudio del Dolor (FEDELAT): Latin American federation of pain associations. Comparable as a regional federation promoting pain study and treatment across Latin America, in partnership with IASP.
• South Asian Regional Pain Society (SARPS): South Asian federation of IASP-affiliated national pain societies. Comparable as a regional pain federation supporting accessible pain care across South Asia.
• Australian Pain Society: Australian multidisciplinary pain society affiliated with IASP. Comparable in structure (membership society, annual scientific meeting, journal involvement) but focused on Australia/NZ.
• European Pain Federation (EFIC): Federation of 37 IASP chapters in Europe; previously the European Federation of IASP Chapters. Comparable as a regional pain federation, jointly hosting congresses and coordinating European pain research — also a formal IASP partner.

Direct peers

• British Pain Society: UK-based professional society for healthcare professionals involved in pain management. Comparable as a national pain association offering similar membership, education, and clinical resources.
• Canadian Pain Society: Canada's national chapter of IASP representing pain researchers and clinicians. Directly comparable in mission, membership model, and advocacy for improved pain care.
• American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM): US-based multidisciplinary professional society for physicians practicing pain medicine. Directly comparable to IASP in mission (pain research/education/advocacy), membership model, and clinical training focus.
• American Pain Society: US-based multidisciplinary pain research society. Comparable as a peer professional association focused on basic and clinical pain science, with similar journal publishing and member services.

Emerging players

• World Institute of Pain (WIP): International pain organization focused on interventional pain practice and credentialing. Comparable as an adjacent pain professional society offering congresses, certification, and education, with partial overlap to IASP's clinical mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@IASPain
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1022844
• Facebookfacebook.com/iasp.pain
• Xx.com/iasppain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)