Contact information
01865 223254
Research groups
Colleges
Collaborators
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David Bennett
Professor of Neurology and Neurobiology
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Irene Tracey
Professor Anaesthetic Neuroscience
Annina Schmid
MMACP, MManipTher, PhD
Professor of Pain Neurosciences
- Head, Neuromusculoskeletal Health and Science Lab
- Wellcome Clinical Career Development Fellow
- BRC Senior Research Fellow
- Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist MMACP
- Governing Body Fellow Wolfson College
Research focus
Peripheral entrapment neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome or radiculopathies are common conditions that are caused by compression of a nerve as it travels through narrow anatomical spaces. Symptoms include tingling, numbness and weakness and many patients develop neuropathic pain. The first-line treatment for entrapment neuropathies is non-surgical management including physiotherapy and pharmacology. However, the effects of non-surgical management are often modest. A major road-block to delivering more effective interventions is a lack of understanding of disease mechanisms resulting in inadequate patient stratification.
My research focusses on advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology of entrapment neuropathies with the ultimate aim to develop precision physiotherapy and improve management for these patients.
My group uses entrapment neuropathies as unique model systems that allow the prospective evaluation of nerve injury and repair in the context of neuropathic pain. We use a range of methodologies including deep clinical phenotyping with quantitative sensory testing and neurophysiological methods. I have also been at the forefront in developing advanced neuroimaging methods to visualise peripheral nerves at ultra-high field strength (MR neurography). In addition, we use a range of technologies (e.g., RNA sequencing, qPCR, specialised histology) to study the cellular and molecular aspects of entrapment neuropathies. This multimodal and innovative approach allows a detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying entrapment neuropathies and neuropathic pain in general.
If you are interested in doing a PhD/DPhil with my team, please get in touch.
Websites
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Is it neuropathic pain?
Have a look at our most recent video explaining how clinicians can detect the presence of neuropathic pain
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Neuromusculoskeletal Health and Science Lab
have a look at my group's website
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www.neuro-research.ch
Here you can find more information about my background, academic, clinical and teaching work
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Why you cannot trust the dermatomes
Please see our recent animated video explaining why you cannot trust the dermatomes
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What is sciatica?
Have a look at our short video explaining what 'sciatica' is for patients
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Molecular and cellular correlates of human nerve regeneration: ADCYAP1/PACAP enhance nerve outgrowth
Here you can see our video summary explaining our findings on a gene related to human nerve regeneration
Recent publications
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Journal article
Sandy-Hindmarch OP. et al, (2024), Pain
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Journal article
Villa S. et al, (2024), Pain
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Investigating neuro-immune interaction in a humanised in vitro microfluidic coculture platform
Poster
Chang P-S. et al, (2024)
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Journal article
E. S-S. et al, (2024), BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25
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Journal article
Dove L. et al, (2024), European Spine Journal