With the , the journal began a year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary. A logo for the 50th anniversary was developed and adorns each paper published in 2025.
Before PAIN, there had never been a journal dedicated to pain. But when, in 1973, John Bonica gathered together key people working on pain, they concluded that the nascent field needed a journal and an association to support it. Patrick Wall was immediately identified as the journal’s first Editor-in-Chief (EiC). The 聽was then published in March 1975.
We are pleased to have as the cornerstone of this year’s reflection of our history a celebration of the previous 4 EiCs of聽PAIN through a 4-part series of essays exploring their lives, thinking, and accomplishments. We began the year with on the founding EiC of聽PAIN, Dr. Patrick Wall. What better way to start our celebration than with a close colleague’s recollections of the life and science of the journal’s founding EiC, who did so much to get the journal off the ground and maintain its high standards over his tenure of 25 years.
It is thanks to Pat Wall that the journal rapidly established itself as the premier journal for pain research in both clinical and basic science, a reputation that聽PAIN聽retains thanks in no small part to the standard of excellence set by its founding editor. As a close friend of Patrick Wall, Marshall Devor adds some colorful detail to his description of Patrick Wall’s life and science, as well as valuable insights into the importance of his science, ideas, and mentorship.
The other pieces of this special series pay tribute to PAIN’s first 4 EiCs; they focus on Drs. , Allan Basbaum 鈥� to be published next month, and Francis Keefe 鈥� to be published in October.
With the first issue honoring the 50th Anniversary, the journal introduced Pain Essays as a new article type for PAIN, spearheaded by long serving section editor of the journal, Dr. Jane Ballantyne. The new format provides a forum for articles that go beyond clinical practice and research to delve into pain’s importance in history, religion, culture, philosophy, ethics, and politics.
Finally, at the end of our year celebrating the first 50 years of PAIN, we will have a special supplement of ideas and aspirations for the future of pain research featuring articles from top pain scientists from around the globe.
Stayed tuned and sign up for 笔础滨狈鈥�s Table of Contents updates to hear more about our journal and keep up with our 50th Anniversary celebrations!
Further Reading
- Davis, Karen Deboraha; Ballantyne, Jane Carol. . PAIN 166(1):p 1-2, January 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003438
- Devor, Marshall. . PAIN 166(1):p 11-19, January 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003480
- Sessle, Barry J. . PAIN 166(5):p 977-987, May 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003548