Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Group Liverpool

In 2020, a research programme for Neuroscience and Mental Health was initiated with Liverpool Health Partners (now dissolved).

As part of this programme, an interest group was formed to bring together clinicians and scientists who are interested in using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), to facilitate better understanding of pain.

TMS is also approved by NICE for the treatment of patients with severe drug-resistant depression.

The Pain Research Institute has done considerable work in the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for neuropathic pain, and the Walton Centre is currently the only centre in the UK that offers this treatment for central neuropathic pain conditions.

Another large role of TMS is its use for functional mapping prior to brain surgery.

This informal group has expanded to include all non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. It facilitates meetings to discuss further research projects and clinical application between clinical members from the Walton Centre, Mersey Care and Alder Hey, as well as brain researchers from the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

The aim is to meet regularly, to invite speakers to update on new developments and on their experience with non-invasive brain stimulation, and to collaborate on grant applications to fund research in this fast-developing area.

We try to meet at least twice a year via a hybrid face-to-face and online meeting.

The group is currently jointly chaired by Dr Bernhard Frank, Consultant in Pain Medicine at the WCFT, and Dr Jade Thai, Senior Research Manager at Mersey Care.

Brain Stimulation Group Agenda 2023 (PDF, 0.12MB).