Brain networks as a novel treatment target to restore brain function

Clinical symptoms of many chronic neurological and mental health conditions may be explained by abnormal brain networks that disrupt the complex coordination of excitation and inhibition supporting healthy brain functions.

Restoring normal brain network function has therefore become a new target for treatment of currently hard-to-treat conditions such as cognitive impairment, depression, and chronic pain.

Non-invasive neuromodulation alters regional brain activity, and shows clinical effectiveness in some conditions. But the mechanisms are incompletely understood, limiting the optimisation of treatment protocol optimisation and the selection of patients.

A transdisciplinary approach 

Our BRC's multi-disciplinary team builds on the expertise in experimental neuropsychology, brain modelling, brain connectomics and clinical brain network signatures to develop optimised connectivity-guided neuromodulation protocols.

In Nottingham, our MRI clinical research portfolio includes protocol innovation and mechanistic evaluation of imaging-guided non-invasive neuromodulation addressing symptoms strongly associated with quality-of-life and prioritised through PPI, such as cognitive impairment, chronic pain and depression.

Our methods and facilities

Advanced neuroimaging systems including a high-gradient strength 3T ‘Connectome’ scanner, ultra-high filed 7T MRI combined with dedicated computational pipelines provide cutting edge brain network modelling for experimental medicine, and early phase clinical trials.

We employ experimental and clinical research dedicated image-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) systems, electrical stimulation devices and innovative non-invasive focused ultrasound systems.

Progress and outcomes

Our multimodal imaging-guided pilot work in treatment-resistant depression is currently undergoing a phase 3 clinical trial with mechanistic evaluation of efficacy. The current pilot work assesses tolerability and pilot mechanistic efficacy of an accelerated treatment protocol in chronic pain, and a dose-finding pilot for cognitive improvement in multiple sclerosis.

• The neuromodulation research programme is funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation, NIHR BRC, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), MS Society, Versus Arthritis and the University of Nottingham.