Our Journey
The International Forum for Back and Neck Pain Research was established in Seattle, USA, in 1995, through the visionary initiative of Dan Cherkin, Jeffrey Borkan, Timothy Carey, Richard Deyo, and Bart Koes. Over the past three decades, it has served as a premier gathering point for pioneering minds in spine care, counting legendary researchers such as Alf Nachemson, Gordon Waddell, and Peter Croft among its active contributors. Since its inception, this unique forum has rotated globally approximately every 18 to 24 months, driving the frontiers of primary care spine research.
A defining milestone occurred at the 2011 forum in Australia with the establishment of our dedicated early-career research group. Designed to champion and integrate the next generation of scientists, this highly successful initiative remains a cornerstone of our upcoming meeting in Hong Kong. We warmly invite both established international authorities and researchers from musculoskeletal, rehabilitation, and relevant fields to join the forum to collaborate to tackle the current and future challenges of spinal pain.
Our Vision
To alleviate the global burden of back and neck pain through the pursuit of research excellence.
Our Mission
To achieve our vision, the Forum is dedicated to:
- Advancing Rigorous Science: Promoting highly robust, patient-centered research that directly improves outcomes for individuals living with spinal pain.
- Bridging Research and Practice: Accelerating the translation and implementation of scientific discoveries into everyday clinical care.
- Guiding the Future: Clarifying global research priorities and establishing a forward-looking scientific agenda.
- Fostering Global Collaboration: Cultivating multidisciplinary, international partnerships across diverse healthcare settings.
- Driving Policy Change: Engaging with policymakers, patients, and healthcare leaders to advocate for evidence-based policies in pain prevention and management.
- Empowering the Next Generation: Providing supportive learning environments, mentorship, and development opportunities for researchers worldwide.