Can We Have a World Without Pain?

Professor Matt Higgins

A black and white image of a person gripping their left knee with both hands, set against a bright blue background. Red graphic lightning bolts point directly at the knee joint to symbolise sharp pain or injury

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Event information

Date: Thursday, 3 Dec 2026

Time: 18:00

Type: Lecture

Location: Holborn

Venue: Barnard's Inn Hall

Topics: Medicine Public Health Science

Part of:

Marvellous Medicines and How They Changed Humanity

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Pain is there to protect you. It stops you when your hand strays close to a flame or onto the blade of a knife. But imagine an operation or a tooth infection without painkillers.

How were painkillers and anaesthetics developed and how do they work? Why might they cause addiction? Why do they sometimes fail to stop chronic pain and how are painkillers of the future being developed?

Professor Matt Higgins

Gresham Professor of Physic

Matt Higgins is fascinated by parasites which cause human diseases. These amazing organisms have evolved many tricks to enable them to survive within our bodies...

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