The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has declared 2026 as the Global Year of Neuropathic Pain.[1] Neuropathic pain affects an estimated 580 to 830 million people worldwide and is caused by damage to the nervous system through disease or injury.[1] It is associated with common conditions such as sciatica, diabetes, HIV, leprosy, nerve trauma, amputations and conflict injuries.[1] Despite its high prevalence, it is often underdiagnosed, undertreated, and misunderstood, leading to unnecessary suffering.[1] A study published in Science Immunology shows that women experience exacerbated chronic pain longer than men due to biological differences in the immune system.[3] Translational pain research faces challenges such as a lack of relevant models, differences between rodents and humans, or repeated failures of clinical trials.[2] Despite advances in the understanding of the neurobiology of pain over the past 30 years, new long-term treatments for chronic pain are lacking.[2]