BIONIC eyes, lung imaging and pregnancy apps were part of an exhibition revealing life-changing research taking place in Oxford. Members of the public had a rare opportunity to meet surgeons, nurses and clinical researchers who are building the next generation of clinical techniques to revolutionise medicine.The Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, based at the Churchill Hospital, … Read more
News for Neurological Conditions
Personalised brain stimulation could improve life for Parkinson’s sufferers
Researchers in Oxford have made a landmark breakthrough towards improving the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease. The Oxford University team based at the John Radcliffe Hospital has successfully trialled an advanced deep brain stimulation system that actively detects and responds to a patient’s brainwaves to reduce symptoms. This personalised system, using a brain-computer interface, proved … Read more
Discover the a to zzzs of the brain
To celebrate Brain Awareness Week (March 11 to 15), researchers from the Oxford Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute are hosting a series of activities, displays, talks on the subject of Sleep and the Brain. A crack team of neuroscientists will take over the Museum of the History of Science’s Basement Gallery on Tuesday March 12, … Read more
Amputee phantom pain linked to brain retaining picture of missing limb
Changes in the brain following amputation have been linked to pain arising from the missing limb, called ‘phantom pain’, in a study supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre. Arm amputees experiencing the most phantom limb pain were found to maintain stronger representation of the missing hand in the brain – to the point … Read more
New hope for those with Parkinson’s tremors
A NEW brain stimulation therapy could help supress tremors in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to new research. The non-invasive technique has been pioneered by researchers supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, a collaboration between Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and Oxford University to accelerate healthcare innovation. The … Read more
Cannabis pain relief is variable
The pain relief offered by cannabis varies greatly between individuals, a brain imaging study supported by Oxford Biomedical Research Centre suggests. The researchers found that an oral tablet of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, tended to make the experience of pain more bearable, rather than actually reduce the intensity of the pain. MRI brain … Read more
Remodelling the Brain: an insight into research that could aid stroke recovery
Our brains adapt whenever we learn a new skill, such as juggling and they also adapt after damage such as stroke. In this Oxford Biomedical Research Centre public talk, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience Heidi Johansen-Berg shows how brain imaging allows us to watch the brain remodel, reorganise and rewire. Prof Johansen-Berg, a Wellcome Trust Senior … Read more
Treating sleep problems may be important in schizophrenia
A study of schizophrenia patients has found profound disruptions in their sleep patterns, with half also having irregular body clocks that are out of synch with the pattern of night and day. The Oxford researchers argue that the extent and severe nature of these long-term sleep problems should be considered for treatment along with the … Read more
Stroke feature: restructuring the brain
A Wellcome Trust article highlights the work of Professor Heidi Johansen-Berg at the University of Oxford and her research exploring the structural changes in the brain’s white and grey matter that underlie learning. Understanding the precise cellular nature of those changes may improve diagnosis of brain damage and therapeutic interventions in stroke. Modern neuroscience supports the notion that our … Read more
Joint funding for multiple sclerosis research
The Oxford Biomedical Research Centre and the MS Society have joined forces to fund a three year Clinical Research Fellowship to carry out translational research into basic or clinical aspects of multiple sclerosis (MS). The collaboration will support the research of Dr Oliver Leach, based within the Department of Clinical Neurology in the University of … Read more