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10.04.2024 | Exeter University

CPNN+ Neurotechnology and Pain Workshop

2nd & 3rd July 2024. University of Exeter

CPNN+ Neurotechnology and Pain Workshop

2 day interactive workshop

2nd & 3rd July 2024

Xfi Building (Streatham Campus) University of Exeter

All attendees will receive a 3 course dinner in Reed Hall with a welcome drinks reception, on the evening of Tuesday 2nd July 2024, free of charge.

Our afternoon practical workshops are now fully booked for ECR’s attending. For in-person delegates, there will be dedicated space each afternoon whilst the workshops are taking place to allow for networking and/or to continue with any work/meeting commitments.

Morning talks each day will be held in the Henderson lecture theatre in the Xfi building.

Aims:

  • Interdisciplinary workshop that aims to explore the promises and pitfalls of neuromodulation in chronic pain research.
  • There will be morning talks across a range of translational topics that will cover neuromodulation in experimental human models, methodological considerations and clinical studies.
  • Afternoon interactive workshops will focus on how to design and carry out transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) experiments. This will include guidance on how to use neuronavigation and how to integrate with EEG recordings.

Our agenda with approximate timings includes:

Tuesday 2nd July

9:00 – 9:30 – Registration

Beginning with talks from:

  • 9:30-10:00 Thomas Graven – Nielsen (Aalborg University) Talk Title: Neurotechnology to Assess and Modulate Cortical Changes in Tonic and Prolonged Experimental Pain
  • 10:00-10:30 Chris Brown (Liverpool University) Talk Title: Unlocking Pain Relief through Visual Alpha Rhythm Stimulation
  • 10:30-11:00 Sophie Clarke (Exeter University) Talk Title: Mapping the brain circuit of pain modulation with TUS
  • 11:00-11:30 Coffee break
  • 11:30-12:00 Anna M. Zamorano (Aalborg University) Talk Title: Impact of use-dependent plasticity on pain processing.
  • 12:00-12:30 David McGonigle (Cardiff University) Talk Title: The Trials and Tribulations of transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES).
  • 12:30-13:00 Edith Elgueta Cancino (Birmingham University) Talk Title: Neuromodulation and exercise in Low Back Pain.
  • 13:00-14:00 Lunch & poster presentations
  • 14:30-17:00 BrainBox workshop. This workshop will cover methodological and practical considerations for TMS, TMS-EEG, TMS neuronavigation with live demonstrations. Workshop agenda as follows: 1 hour lecture: Basic Principles of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS), 30 minute demonstration: Introduction to TMS & tES devices, 15 minute break, 1 hour lecture lecture: TMS Safety, Physiology and Common Measures & Introduction to TMS-EEG, 1 – 1.5 hour Practical Demonstration: Navigated TMS-MEP
  • 18:00 Drinks Reception (Reed Hall)
  • 19:00 Dinner (Reed Hall)

Wednesday 3rd July

9:00 -9:30 – Arrival

Beginning with talks from:

  • 9:30-10:00 Sharmila Khot (Cardiff University) Talk Title: External Neuromodulation treatment for focal pain – A clinical perspective
  • 10:00-10:30 Teo Goroszeniuk (Consultant in Pain Medicine & Anesthesia) Talk Title: Update on External Neuromodulation.
  • 10:30-11:00 Martin Gillies (Oxford University) Talk Title: EPIONE: designing a surgical RCT for pain.
  • 11:00-11.30 Coffee break
  • 11:30-12:00 Jen Davies (Cardiff University) Talk Title: Towards understanding the neural bases of changes in movement and mobility in the presence of pain.
  • 12:00-12:30 Temitayo Olugbade (University of Sussex & Honorary Research Fellow, University College London) Talk Title: AI for Ecological Momentary Assessments and Toward Tailored Interventions at Home
  • 12:30-13:00 Mae Mansoubi (Exeter University) Talk Title: Pain & Activity Interrelationships: Utilising Ecological Momentary Assessment.
  • 13:00-14:00 Lunch & poster presentations
  • 14:30-17:00 TUS workshop hosted by Dr. Elsa Fouragnan. This workshop will cover biophysical, physiological and clinical considerations, the regulatory pathway for focused ultrasound neuromodulation as a treatment, experimental planning and design and optimizing target engagement.
  • 17:00 Event closes

Guest speakers

Thomas Graven-Nielsen, DMSc, PhD, Professor. Thomas Graven-Nielsen acquired his PhD within Biomedical Science and Engineering in 1997 (Aalborg University, Denmark). In 2006 he obtained a Doctoral degree in Medical Science (DMSc, Copenhagen University). He is Director at Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Aalborg University, Denmark (since 2015), and Full Professor in Pain Neuroscience since 2008. The Danish National Research Foundation funds CNAP. The research focuses on translational studies of musculoskeletal pain bridging the gap between basic animal findings and clinical manifestations of pain. The scope is to identify and modulate key features of human pain neuroplasticity leading to prevention of maladaptive neuroplasticity and promote advantageous neuroplasticity. Development of pain models, bio-markers, assessment and neuro-modulatory technologies are key biomedical tools for the translational studies. Thomas has published 360+ peer-reviewed scientific papers (H-index: 73, approx. 18.000 citations) and received several awards, most notably the Knight of the Order of Dannebrog (2020). He reviews papers on a regular basis for high ranked journals, has presented as keynote speaker at several international conferences, and organised scientific workshops and symposia at international meetings. More than 10 national and international collaborations on translational pain research have been established including research groups in Sweden, UK, Japan, USA and Australia. Several international guest professors have worked with Thomas in his laboratory facilities. Moreover, advocacy for pain research has been a cornerstone activity via dedicated involvement in e.g. the International Association for the Study of Pain.
Dr Christopher Brown, Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool, seeks to bridge cognitive neuroscience and clinical applications of pain. His expertise involves combining EEG and MRI neuroimaging with advanced statistical modelling to understand cognitive modulation of pain. His work in visual alpha entrainment for analgesia contributes to new efforts towards non-pharmacological pain relief and advances understanding in both acute and chronic pain treatment.
Sophie is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Exeter. Her research focusses on understanding the effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological analgesic interventions, such as virtual reality interventions and transcranial ultrasound (TUS), using a range of experimental techniques to assess pain responses in healthy human participants, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and spinal neurophysiological assessments.
Anna M. Zamorano is an assistant professor at Aarhus University at the Center for Music in the Brain (MIB). With a strong background in clinical and scientific settings,  she has developed her research career in several Universities in Spain (University of the Balearic Islands), Germany (University of Tûbingen) and Denmark (Aalborg University and Aarhus University), specializing in the impact of long-term repetitive movements on the neural pain processing. In particular, Dr. Zamorano is pioneering a novel research line, investigating pain processing through the lens of use-dependent plasticity, using musical training as a framework. Her goal is to understand the impact of prior experience on pain vulnerability and resilience.
David McGonigle received his BSc(Hons) in Neuroscience from Glasgow University and his PhD in functional Neuroimaging from the Institute of Neurology, UCL. Currently based at Cardiff University’ Brain Imaging centre, CUBRIC, he has been interested in the methodology of brain stimulation for roughly a decade and has used tES with MEG, MRI, MRS, and fNIRS… often unsuccessfully.
Edith Elgueta-Cancino (PT, MPhil, PhD, Honorary research Fellow, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham, UK & Institute of Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Chile.)
A physiotherapist from Chile, MPhil in Human Motor Control and PhD on Neurosciences and Physiotherapy from the University of Queensland, Australia. Research fellow at Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain and then Lecturer at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. In 2023, Edith started a position at Universidad Andres Bello in Chile as part of the first rehabilitation orientated PhD program in the country.  Her research utilizes non-invasive brain stimulation, electrophysiology, and clinical assessments to understand how the brain controls the movement and the adaptions caused by musculoskeletal disorders and pain. It aims to aid the improvement and development of tailored interventions.  
Sharmila Khot FRCA, FFPMRCA, MSc Pain Management. Consultant in Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia at University Hospital Wales, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK. Hon Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff.
Clinical interests- Neuropathic and Nociplastic pain, pain management in primary care, External Neuromodulation and Virtual Reality in pain management, QST in clinic.
Research Interests- My broad research field is in the clinical application of neuroimaging and neurostimulation techniques (MEG and MRI)
Ongoing research – investigating pain mechanisms and pharmacological changes in Rheumatoid Arthritis (a pre and post drug 7T/3T study).
Optimising CUBRIC QST protocol to contribute to the development of consensus protocols with national and international researchers.
Virtual Reality in chronic pain – PhD supervisor – project exploring impact of distraction and embodiment VR in chronic low back pain.
Development and optimisation of a QST tool for clinical and research use (MRI compatible) – Multisite Pressure pain stimulator
Posts Held previously:
Regional advisor in Pain Medicine for Wales, Clinical lead for chronic pain services and Advisory role – South Wales Network for Acute Pain
Teodor Goroszeniuk FFARCSI, FFPMCAI (Hon) is a Consultant in Pain Medicine and Anaesthesia at the Cromwell Hospital in. London, UK. Teodor previously worked at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Main interests: Neuromodulation and Regional Anaesthesia, Peripheral Neuromodulation, Spinal Cord Stimulation, External neuromodulation.
Education
Inventor of Novel Neuromodulation Techniques such as Peripheral Nerve Field Stimulation, Brachial Plexus Stimulation, Autonomic System Implantable Stimulation, PNFS for Angina, External Neuromodulation
Founder of:
Founder and President of London Pain Forum
Founder and V-President Polish Neuromodulation Society
Founder of Travelling Pain Symposium
Founder Winter Pain Symposium
Founder and Co-CEO of Remedius Ltd (Neural Retuning Remedies)
Martin Gillies is a senior research fellow and lecturer in Oxford Functional Neurosurgery. He trained as a doctor and completed a PhD with Miles Whittington and Eberhard Buhl in Leeds in 2003. Martin worked as a neurosurgery registrar under Prof Tipu Aziz for several years.
Our group has a long interest in pain, both through research and treatment.  Our service offers DRG stimulation and spinal cord stimulation on the NHS, and historically has performed deep brain stimulation for pain.  We are setting up a trial of DBS for central post stroke pain at the moment.
We are also interested in palliative neurosurgery for cancer pain by cingulotomy and intrathecal morphine pumps.
Jen Davies is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Healthcare Sciences at Cardiff University. She studied at the University of Bath in the UK and McGill University in Canada before receiving her PhD in Clinical Sciences from University of Colorado Denver in the USA in 2010. She then completed post-doctoral positions in the Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders at UCL and the Biomechanics and Bioengineering Research Centre Versus Arthritis at Cardiff University before starting a lectureship within the School of Healthcare Sciences at Cardiff University in 2021.
Jen is a neuromechanist, studying the spinal and supraspinal control of movements to unpick how the nervous and musculoskeletal systems interact to plan and perform these movements. She is particularly interested in how the neural control of movements is impacted by the presence of challenges; for example, how does this change in the presence of pain? Jen has developed a novel system to allow transcranial magnetic stimulation to be delivered during standing and walking, allowing study of the cortical control of balance and gait. She has integrated this, along with peripheral nerve stimulation, into a virtual reality environment that operates with a dual-belt instrumented treadmill that can move in pitch and sway, a full-body optoelectronic motion capture system, and conventional and high-density surface electromyography. All equipment is integrated into a real-time feedback loop allowing application of perturbations (visual or physical) and stimulation (transcranial, peripheral) according to ongoing movement parameters in real time. In her ongoing work, Jen is exploring the potential for this unique system to probe the neural bases underlying changes in movement and mobility that occur in the presence of pain.
Temitayo Olugbade is a Lecturer in Computer Science and AI at University of Sussex and Honorary Research Fellow at University College London (UCL). Her research pursues development and application of AI (machine learning) methods to automatic detection of affective experiences and behaviours.
Wearables and other types of sensors are increasingly being accepted as useful for capturing movement and physiological signals during everyday activity. AI can add value to this by using such data to further infer states of psychological constructs of interest to any given condition, like chronic pain. This can be helpful for monitoring these psychological variables at a scale that would be too burdensome with traditional self-reporting or clinician annotation. It also provides opportunity for continual targeted interventions in everyday settings.
Dr Mansoubi is a Senior Research Fellow and Co-module lead of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Exeter’s Medical school. Her research in the field of digital health innovation and public health involves co-developing and implementing cutting-edge technologies to promote and enhance the quality of life for individuals with chronic or neurological conditions. She specialised in leveraging digital technologies to encourage physical activity, monitor movement behaviour, analyse human performance, and remote monitoring of health and well-being. Currently, she holds the position of deputy director in the Equality, diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences at the University of Exeter.
Dr Elsa Fouragnan is a cognitive neuroscientist, appointed Associate Professor at the School of Psychology, UKRI Future Leader Fellow, and the Head of the Brain Stimulation Department at Brain Research Imaging Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, UK.
She is a trained biomedical engineer and moved into neuroscience during her PhD at the University of Trento, Italy (2009-2013) followed by two Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford, UK (2013-2018). In 2018, she started her own laboratory at Plymouth, investigating the human brain circuits mediating decision making and learning using a range of neuroimaging and neurostimulation methods.
Elsa’s pioneering research on transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation shows that it can safely and transiently change neural activity in precise parts of the brain, particularly deep regions of the brain, responsible for core cognitive and motivational processes. Elsa is now working towards bringing this technology forward and apply it to mental health challenges, particularly addiction and OCD.
https://brainbox-neuro.com/

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