Painlab

Who we are

PainLab is the name of the Laboratory of Pain Research, which is one of the laboratories operating within the Institute of Physiotherapy and Health Sciences at the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice. It is part of the Biomedical Basis of Physiotherapy Group – one of the Research Groups that make up the structure of the Institute. The LBB conducts basic research aimed at understanding the physiological and psychological factors influencing the experience of pain, such as placebo and nocebo effects on pain perception, pain expectations, self-image, spatial and temporal summation of pain, conditional modulation of pain, and learning processes affecting pain

Team

Wacław M. Adamczyk, PhD
leader

Waclaw Adamczyk is the head of the Pain Research Laboratory, author of numerous publications, and director of the OPUS-19 project from NCN “Where is your pain? Classically conditioned spatial dimension of pain in humans.” Currently in a post-doc position at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (OH, USA) in the team of Prof. Robert Coghill.

Aleksandra Budzisz, PhD
employee

Aleksandra Budzisz teaches at the Department of Physical Education and is active in research within the topic of body image and its correlation with pain sensation. She directs a PRELUDIUM project from the National Science Center entitled: “Your back is lopsided!” – The effect of nocebo instruction and experimental pain on body image.

Jacek Skalski, MSc
PhD student

Physiotherapist since 2011. Doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Academy of Physical Education in Katowice since 2019. Head of the PRELUDIUM 19 project from the National Science Center. He is particularly interested in the effects of placebo and nocebo effects on pain perception and the possible generalization (transfer) of these o effects to other symptoms. In addition, he is interested in chronic pain, the effects of manual therapy on pain, EBP (evidence-based practice) in physiotherapy, and neurorehabilitation.

Jakub Nastaj, MSc
PhD student

A graduate of psychology at the Jagiellonian University, he is a doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Academy of Physical Education in Katowice since 2020. He is interested in physiological mechanisms of pain modulation such as lateral inhibition and spatial summation, in addition, psychological factors that modulate pain and pain learning processes.

What makes us unique?

Interesting research projects

PainLab conducts cutting-edge research projects covering a wide range of topics related to basic research on pain and factors affecting pain modulation. Current research projects can be found here.

Quality of research conduct with a focus on open science

In PainLab, we place great emphasis on the quality of our research, which has been confirmed by our ISO certification. We are also staunch supporters of so-called OpenScience – we are keen to ensure that the entire process of conducting research, from recruitment to analysis to publication of research results, is transparent, reliable and documented. We follow the latest trends in the scientific world related to the methodology of conducting research in order to improve our scientific workshop and ensure the best quality of research activities.

Quality of content

We like science and we want to do science. Science is important to us. That’s why we are committed to getting our research results published in renowned journals and presented at international scientific conferences. To this end, we obtain research funding through scientific grants and undertake cooperation with other scientific centers in Poland and around the world (see).

A close-knit team and a great atmosphere

We form a cohesive team and are nice people brought together by a common passion – science. So, if you’re nice and interested in pain-related science and research, you can join us.

How?

Are you a student? Preferably as a member of student scientific circle PainLab.
Are you already involved in science? Get in touch with us.

Collaboration

University of Lübeck
University of Silesia
Jagiellonian University
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Student Scientific Circle PainLab

We have a Student Scientific Circle SKN PainLab at the Pain Research Laboratory. Meetings are held every other Thursday at 7 pm on the ZOOM platform. The activity of the circle is based on two pillars: sharing knowledge about pain and scientific activity. If you are interested in science, have a desire to participate in research projects, find out what scientific activity looks like from behind the scenes or learn more about pain and its mechanisms – you are warmly welcome – write to us!

Board of Directors: