The 3rd International SEDAN Conference Will Address Sensations, Emotions and Pain in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

The 3rd International SEDAN Conference: Sensations, Emotions and Pain in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. From Research to Clinical Practice will bring together national and international experts in Palma on 26 September to discuss the latest scientific advances in neurodevelopmental disorders and their application in clinical, educational and care settings. The event will be held at CaixaForum Palma and will also be available online. 

Organised by Fundació Aspace Balears, the conference is being held under the theme"From Research to Clinical Practice" and has the support of the IdISBa and the Faculty of Nursing and Physiotherapy of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). Its aim is to bridge the gap between scientific research and professional practice while fostering knowledge exchange among researchers, healthcare professionals, educators, students, families and anyone interested in the field of neurodevelopment.

The programme is divided into three thematic blocks. The first will focus on genetics, epigenetics and the human experience of neurodevelopmental syndromes, featuring internationally renowned speakers such as Francesc Palau Martínez, Head of the Department of Genetic and Molecular Medicine at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, and Astrid Diederichs, representative of Smith-Magenis Advocacy Group Germany. 

The second block will explore sensations, emotions and pain from different scientific and clinical perspectives. Speakers will include Anna María Zamorano from Aarhus University (Denmark), Yukari Takahashi from Jikei Medical School (Tokyo), and Laura Arriero, physiotherapist at Fundació Aspace, who will present research on the role of music, animal studies and the use of electrocardiography in pain assessment. 

The third block will focus on the application of this knowledge in educational and care environments, with contributions from professionals working in education, psychology and disability support services. 

One of the highlights of the conference will be the presentation of the beta version of PainScan CP, an artificial intelligence-based application designed to detect pain in people with cerebral palsy. The initiative forms part of the ParticiPC: Citizen Science for the Ethical and Collaborative Expansion of the CP PAIN Database in Care and Family Settings project, developed with the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). 

The event will also include a scientific poster competition aimed at showcasing research related to sensations, emotions and pain in neurodevelopmental disorders, promoting scientific and professional exchange among researchers and practitioners. 

The 3rd International SEDAN Conference is supported by several scientific and healthcare institutions, including the Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), and forms part of the dissemination activities of the ParticiPC project. 

Practical Information

📅 Date: 26 September 2026
🕘 Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
📍 Venue: CaixaForum Palma
💻 Format: In-person and online
🎟️ Free registration

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