Members

I study the spinal and supraspinal neural control of dynamic movements, and the impact of pain, stress or anxiety, and musculoskeletal or neurological disorders on this control. To do this I use techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, surface electromyography (including high-density arrays), intramuscular electromyography, peripheral nerve stimulation and motion capture.

My background is in the use of non-invasive brain stimulation, neuroimaging and somatosensory psychophysics to explore sensory processing in health and disease. I am a more recent convert to using these techniques to explore how best to modulate chronic and neuropathic pain.

Evaluation of neural mechanisms that govern the presence of co-morbid chronic pain and psychiatric disorders in patients with neuropathic pain to identify biomarkers and therapeutic interventions using pharmacological and neuromodulation-based approaches.

I have conducted research on pain and its management for over 30 years. Areas of interest include response to electrophysical agents, individuality and pain, perceptual embodiment, epidemiology, pain education, pain and art, community-support-programmes for pain, and painogencity (health promotion). Methodologies include evidence syntheses (e.g., Cochrane reviews, meta-ethnography), human response to stimuli (quantitative sensory testing) and clinical trials. I have a long-standing interest in transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and deliver a distance learning MSc module on Foundation Neuromodulation (implantable devices).

My research focuses on understanding the brain mechanisms that underpin human sensorimotor function. My research utilises a range of approaches, including state-of-the-art MR imaging and spectroscopy, magnetoencephalography, and non-invasive brain stimulation to investigate the pathophysiology of common mental/brain health conditions. A key focus is developing the next generation of novel therapeutic approaches for mental/brain health conditions based on wearable technology and non-invasive brain stimulation. To this end I am a founding Non-Executive Director, and Chief Scientific Officer, of Neurotherapeutics Ltd.

Dr Alex Casson is a Reader in the Materials, Devices and Systems division of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on non-invasive bioelectronic interfaces: the design and application of wearable sensors, and skin-conformal flexible sensors, for human body monitoring and data analysis from highly artefact prone naturalistic situations. This work is highly multi-disciplinary and he has research expertise in:
– Ultra low power microelectronic circuit design at the discrete and fully custom microchip levels.
– Sensor signal processing and machine learning for power and time constrained motion artefact rich environments.
– Manufacturing using 3D printing, screen printing, and inkjet printing.
He has particular interests in closed loop systems: those which are tailored to the individual by personalised manufacturing via printing; and tailored to the individual by adjusting non-invasive stimulation (light, sound, electrical current) using data driven responses/outputs from real-time signal processing. Dr Casson’s ultra low power sensors work is mainly for health and wellness applications, with a strong background in brain interfacing (EEG and transcranial current stimulation) and heart monitoring. Applications focus on both mental health situations including chronic pain, sleep disorders, and autism, and physical health/rehabilitation applications including diabetic foot ulceration, and chronic kidney disease.