Some of the team came to help celebrate my almost-retirement yesterday. What a great team to have led, and with whom to have had the privilege of working. www.dundee.ac.uk/cprg

In this paper, published in NATURE, we report a new gene associated with pain, and the mechanism by which its coded protein contributes to pain perception. This is a new target for therapeutic intervention in pain treatment. @cprg-dundee.bsky.social rdcu.be/eCfaS

This aspect of the “crisis” receives less attention www.iasp-pain.org/publications...

Of my great-grandfather, Blair Smith I, upon his retiral (now that I’m effectively there myself): “Although he was a man of few words, those words were always such as went - bullet like - to the inwardness of things.” (Derry Sentinel, c1910)

…in which I feature on.soundcloud.com/tiexV50KYPwk...

My dining room was the studio for this recording of discussion and readings - a collaboration between Fife Writes and Heids & Herts. www.fifewrites.org.uk Fife Writes heidsandherts.com Welcome | Heids & Herts

My @cprg-dundee.bsky.social office is now complete! @partickthistle.bsky.social

Hypertension is more likely to develop in people with chronic pain than those without, as we report in this paper, published online today. @cprg-dundee.bsky.social @dhan-senaratne.bsky.social authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

With other members of Dundee University’s Chronic Pain Research Group, I attended the PAINSTORM Research Consortium’s Annual Meeting in London last week Really interesting (and really hot!) @cprg-dundee.bsky.social

I was honoured to receive this award yesterday

All her fathers

This trial published in NEJM found that exercise greatly improved survival and recurrence rates after colon cancer. This is really close to my heart - I was that soldier. www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Our new paper, based on UK Biobank, presents new genetic variants found to be associated with neck or shoulder pain. @cprg-dundee.bsky.social journals.lww.com/painrpts/ful...

Unboxing our new portrait from Lyon, delivered today. @jehsmith.bsky.social

journals.lww.com/pain/pages/a... In this new paper, published in PAIN, we report several novel genetic variants associated with neuropathic pain. We hope this will guide the search for new treatments, which are much-needed.

www.linkedin.com/posts/blair-... I was honoured to feature in this podcast, led by Callum Leese, on the role of physical activity in chronic pain. Poetry is from Stranger Within: lumphananpress.co.uk/product/stra... @cprg-dundee.bsky.social

It was an honour and privilege to sing in the world première performance of Stewart Warrender’s Requiem, at St Leonard’s Church, St Andrews, on Saturday. It’s a major, spiritual work, and was well received.

Relaxing in Lyon, after #EFIC2025, with my beautiful wife @jehsmith.bsky.social

It was an honour to deliver a Plenary Lecture, to a full auditorium, at #EFIC2025 today in Lyon. @cprg-dundee.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social

Ian-Ju presented her research in poster format at #EFIC2025 today in Lyon, and will deliver a talk tomorrow. @cprg-dundee.bsky.social @efic.bsky.social

@dhan-senaratne.bsky.social Dhan, Ian-Ju and I are sharing some of our research at @efic.bsky.social 2025 in Lyon

Published today in Lancet Neurology. Updated treatment guidelines from @iasp.bsky.social NeuPSIG. A major international project, of which I was privileged to be a part. doi.org/10.1016/S147...

It was great to be part of the multidisciplinary team that wrote this paper. It calls for employers to recognise pain, not necessarily injury, and for researchers and clinicians to lead by example. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Different day, different gig. @jehsmith.bsky.social

Curtain call after tonight’s gig. A privilege to play for St Andrews Community Choir, and just lovely to accompany my beautiful wife.

That’s the next couple of years sorted. Back to my alma mater

Twa dugs, at the Twa Dugs

Summer comes to St Andrews, Fife. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 By which I mean, I could walk the dogs without wearing my big coat!

Signing copies of “Stranger Within” at The Fife Forge, Kirkcaldy, where it can now be purchased. Also available at www.blairhsmith.earth

This is our latest choral composition, published today; a collaboration between Hugh Levey and myself, for Lent/Good Friday. Words, score and music here: youtu.be/RZD2cgw3t9M?...

For World Book Day, I dressed as the main character in my (currently unwritten) autobiography.

Not after today’s display. We should not be rolling out the red carpet to celebrate this man. you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/no...

Great initiative. I’ve signed. Note the €1 trillion crowdfunding effort. 😊 denmarkification.com?utm=.share.b...

In an interesting departure, I’ve been half of the writing team in a new Christmas carol, just published, with Hugh Levey. Available in SATB with, or without organ accompaniment. YouTube synthesis below payhip.com/b/39V28

My 3 children, with my granddaughter. This is everything life is about.

Hello BlueSky! IASP is the leading global organization supporting the study and practice of pain relief. We're excited to share knowledge and connect with an excellent network of international pain professionals.

The first UK study to explore primary care professionals' views and experiences of deprescribing both opioids and gabapentinoids in Deep End practices that cover significant deprivation ➡️doi.org/10.3399/BJGP... Follow @bjgpopen.bsky.social for more #DeepEnd #DeepEndGP

Apparently, I’m 22,000 days old today. Somebody remembered!

Proud grandparents! Here’s with the two most beautiful girls in Scotland. @jehsmith.bsky.social

Today is Epiphany, celebrating the Wise Men meeting Baby Jesus. Suspend disbelief, therefore, and think of me as a wise man: what better day to meet my brand new granddaughter?!

Tonight, we have the Aurora Borealis. Happy New Year from Fife, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Oh Hello, Daddy.

Glasgow, to visit family and to run at stupid o’ clock am. I feel better for the former, and grudgingly admit also to doing so for the latter.

Shipwrecked. Shortlisted for an award and not published by Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. www.mhfestival.com/explore/writ...

Our dogs, Dougal and Flora, were among the 32 who visited Santa Paws this morning.

Happy Rush Day to all friends and family. Spring is on its way (in the northern hemisphere) and the meek shall inherit the Earth

Christmas lunch for our hard working Chronic Pain Research Group, University of Dundee

Singing with St Andrews Renaissance Singers, last night’s concert at St Salvator’s Chapel. Beautiful music, which we did our best to honour.