Irene Tracey is Professor of Anaesthetic Neuroscience, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Warden of Merton College, her alma mater, at the University of Oxford. Irene directed for ten years what is now one of the world's premier neuroimaging centres; she held the Nuffield Chair in Anaesthetics and was Head of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences. Using neuroimaging, Irene's multidisciplinary research team has made fundamental discoveries into how we construct the experience of pain, its relief and how analgesics and anaesthetics work. She sits on various international panels and has been awarded many national and international prizes for her work on pain and anaesthesia.

PART OF THE ALL-NEW LADYBIRD EXPERT SERIES- What is pain and can we measure it?- What is chronic pain and can we treat it?- Can we make pain pleasant?UNDERSTAND the causes and the reasons for pain. This complex, subjective but vital perception is experienced by the entire animal kingdom. We may not enjoy feeling it, but living without pain would be dangerous - it is our body's way of telling us when something isn't right. YOUR BODY'S BUILT IN ALARM SYSTEMWritten by Professor of Anaesthetic Neuroscience at the University of Oxford, Irene Tracey, PAIN is an accessible and fascinating illustrated introduction to one of our body's most important sensory and emotional experiences.