Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is a live-stream of the lecture. An edited version of the lecture will be uploaded in due course.
Have a Question? No Registration Required
https://app.sli.do/event/9xe9e9uYJSDvzVqKzGUtDq
A lecture by Matt Higgins
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?
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/world-pain
Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: gresham.ac.uk/support
Website: gresham.ac.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/greshamcollege
Facebook: facebook.com/greshamcollege
Instagram: instagram.com/greshamcollege
This is a live-stream of the lecture. An edited version of the lecture will be uploaded in due course.
Have a Question? No Registration Required
https://app.sli.do/event/9xe9e9uYJSDvzVqKzGUtDq
A lecture by Matt Higgins
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?
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/world-pain
Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds. To support Gresham's mission, please consider making a donation: gresham.ac.uk/support
Website: gresham.ac.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/greshamcollege
Facebook: facebook.com/greshamcollege
Instagram: instagram.com/greshamcollege
