DrKirsty Bannister

Dr Bannister is the Principal Investigator of the Central Modulation of Pain laboratory (Founded 2017). Her team bridges the gap between pre-clinical (bench) and clinical (bedside) pain research as they conduct exploratory experiments that seek to pharmacologically, anatomically and functionally define somatosensory processing in animals and humans.

By interrogating the physiological processes that underlie the sensation of pain (clinical) and nociception (pre-clinical) in health, the lab has identified pathophysiological changes, and thus novel targets for analgesia, in chronic pain states. The overarching aim is to drive pre-clinical investigation of spinal and brain nociceptive circuits with the goal of better translating basic science research observations to the clinical domain.

This translational focus has attracted sustained interest from the pharmaceutical industry. Dr Bannister has held research collaborations and funding from Grünenthal, Angelini and Ono Pharmaceuticals, and has recently secured funding from Eli Lilly, reflecting the direct relevance of her mechanistic work to drug discovery and development. These partnerships underscore the lab's capacity to bridge rigorous academic science with industry-relevant questions around target identification, analgesic mechanism and patient stratification.

Prospective PhD students

Please see Imperial funding schemes, linked here:

Presidential scholarship - 3.5 year studenthsips for high performing students covering funding for tuition fees and stipend

Lee Family Scholarships - 3.5 year studentship for students who ordinarily reside in China or Hong Kong

MultiSci MRC DTP -  Program involves 1 year MRes programme, including lab rotations and 3.5y PhD (UK 'home' and international students eligible). Applications have closed for 2026 entry and will open for 2027 entry in autumn 2026.

Awards:
The 2023 British Pain Society Patrick D. Wall award
The 2022 International Association for the Study of Pain Patrick D. Wall award
The 2017 European Pain Federation Publication Prize (basic science)

Editorial roles:
Pain, Pain Reports, European Journal of Pain, British Journal of Pharmacology, Current Opinion in Palliative Care

Professional Affiliations:

Member, College of Experts, MRC

Member, College of Experts, Arthritis UK

Academic citizenship:

- Member of the Scientific Programme Committee, EFIC European Pain Federation, 2027
- Chair of the Scientific Programme Committee, IASP World Pain Congress, 2026
- Member of the Scientific Programme Committee, IASP World Pain Congress, 2022 and 2024
- Member of the Scientific Programme Committee, British Pain Society AGM, 2024, 2025, 2026
- Member of the European Pain Federation EFIC Working Group for Translational Pain Research and Pain Research Strategy

Funders:
MRC, Parkinson's UK, NC3Rs (Studentship), ONO (Rising Star Award), Academy of Medical Sciences (Springboard Award), ERA-NET

Media:

https://www.dailymail.com/health/article-15808943/Why-niggling-dull-ache-lasted-weeks-major-warning-sign-lethal-internal-disease.html
https://www.ukat.co.uk/blog/society/painkiller-addiction-prescription-opioids-to-carry-addiction-warnings/
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/28/sufferers-of-chronic-pain-have-long-been-told-its-all-in-their-head-we-now-know-thats-wrong
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/crippling-parkinsons-pain-took-joy-25465768
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=713n2HWsjw0
https://www.thetimes.com/radio?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5aj5-Pe8_QIVWtfICh2bbQF4EAAYASAAEgI5HfD_BwE
https://ea03c6cc-734d-469e-a7b6-066c0d1c46be.usrfiles.com/ugd/ea03c6_d0d83bd6120547a0b333872e49f88fca.pdf