Mark I. Johnson

Professor Mark I. Johnson is Professor of Pain and Analgesia at Leeds Beckett University, where he has served since 1992. He is Director of the Leeds Beckett Pain Team within the Centre for Pain Research and holds a PhD in clinical psychophysiology – pain science. A passionate educator, he supports undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff colleagues, developing distance learning courses using digital technologies.

Education:

• PhD in Clinical Psychophysiology – Pain Science

Research Interests:

Mark leads a vibrant team investigating the science of pain and its management, with a focus on transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), biopsychosocial determinants of pain, and evidence synthesis. His work spans clinical trials (phases 1–3), laboratory studies on humans, and methodologies including quantitative and qualitative approaches, meta-analyses, meta-ethnography, and Cochrane reviews. Current projects explore pain education, community pain services (Rethinking Pain), artist-led activities for pain (Unmasking Pain), and painogenicity (pain through a socio-ecological evolutionary mismatch lens).

Scientific Awards:

• British Medical Association Book Award shortlisted for his book on TENS

Grants & Funding:

Mark has secured over £2 million in research income and undertakes expert consultancy for public and private sectors, including GlaxoSmithKline, Philips Research International, and Medi-Direct International.

Supervision & Teaching:

• Supervised 25+ PhD students
• Examined 20+ PhD candidates
• Regularly chairs Leeds Beckett PhD examinations

Labs & Teams:

He leads the Leeds Beckett Pain Team within the Centre for Pain Research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in pain science.