EPSRC Network+: Neurotechnology for enabling community-based diagnosis and care

Lead Research Organisation: University of Birmingham
Department Name: Inst of Metabolism & Systems Research

Abstract

Hospital neurology and neurophysiology services are increasingly overwhelmed. With a growing and ageing population, the incidence of many brain conditions (such as dementia and epilepsy) are rapidly increasing. Compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, there are now over 10,000 people in the UK waiting more than a year for an appointment with a neurologist. Things must change!

The purpose of our Network is to address these challenges through the development of new technologies that enable diagnosis and management in the community. These services could be provided in a community diagnostic hub, by high-street healthcare professionals, in a GP surgery, in a mobile unit or even in the home environment. Our focus will be on new digital solutions built around neural interfacing, signal processing, machine learning and mathematical modelling. We will work closely with partners developing technologies for measuring brain, eye, spinal, and peripheral nerve activity using wearable technology and minimally invasive devices. Collectively, this will contribute to a significant increase in capacity that will augment the expertise provided in neurology services.

To achieve this, we will build a network of partners with backgrounds spanning academia, industry, hospitals and GP surgeries, charities and policy makers. Crucially we will ensure that people with lived experience of neurological conditions are at the heart of our network. Their experience will inform debate and shape our research priorities, ensuring feasibility and acceptability of emerging technologies.

We will empower people from different backgrounds and career stages to work together on challenging problems whose solutions will lead to societal benefit. To enable this we plan a suite of activities built around the principles of connect, communicate and collaborate. To connect people we will build a website and social media presence, create a public representation group and build new parnterships. We will establish a mentorship scheme and post opportunities for people at different career stages to undertake secondments with partner organisations. To facilitate communication, we will engage with stakeholders including the public, people with neurological conditions, healthcare providers and policy makers. We will host workshops on emerging areas of interest, as well as an annual conference to celebrate findings from across the network. To enable collaboration we will host events including stake-holder led study groups, sandpits and research incubators: where teams of partners will work collaboratively in a facilitated environment, conducting feasibility studies over 6-9 months.

Organisations

Publications

10 25 50
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Harrington G (2024) Treatment effects in epilepsy: a mathematical framework for understanding response over time

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Laugharne R (2023) Neurotechnological solutions for post-traumatic stress disorder: A perspective review and concept proposal. in Healthcare technology letters

 
Description Member of the Epilepsy Research UK Scientific Advisory Committee
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Defining and validating a digital biomarker of epilepsy in children
Amount £96,950 (GBP)
Funding ID SBRIH23P1016 
Organisation Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2024 
End 08/2024
 
Description Determining the clinical utility of BioEP: a multisite, prospective, study
Amount £350,000 (GBP)
Funding ID 10090508 
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2024 
End 02/2026
 
Description Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) Distinguished Visiting Fellow to Professor David Grayden
Amount £6,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of Birmingham 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2023 
End 09/2023
 
Description Travel Award to Sophie Mason
Amount £400 (GBP)
Organisation London Mathematical Society 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2024 
End 01/2024
 
Description Anderson: EEG Biomarkers of Circadian Health 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded funding of a 6 month seedcorn pilot project through the N-CODE Research Incubator. Contribution of a postdoctoral researcher for 6 months at 0.5FTE Budget of 10K for consumables Provision of Artist in Residence Ian Andrews and funding of £2500 for his time Organisation of 2 day project kick off research incubator event Sept 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research team to deliver the research project The circadian system is an internal clock in the brain, which regulates the timing of many bodily processes on a 24-hour cycle, such as sleep and wake. Circadian disruption occurs when the signal from the clock is mismatched to the environment, such as trying to sleep when the clock is signalling wake (e.g., jetlag). These disruptions can occur across a range of disorders, including epilepsy, dementia, and depression. Importantly, circadian disruption is thought to increase risk or severity of these brain-related disorders. Electroencepholography, or EEG, is a measure of electrical signalling in the brain, and provides a window into communication within the brain ("brain networks"). The extent to which brain networks are organised by the circadian system however is largely unknown. This reduces our ability to understand the role of the circadian system in the organisation of brain networks in the context of disease. This project will use EEG to examine changes in brain networks in healthy individuals with respect to circadian timing and strength, and how disruption impacts these rhythms. This will provide an urgently needed benchmark to model the influence of the circadian system on the brain in patients with epilepsy, depression, dementia and other brain-related diseases
Impact PPI workshop Artistic outputs from Artist in Residence Ian Andrews
Start Year 2023
 
Description Angus-Leppan: Can an Epilepsy Chatbot improve outcomes for people with epilepsy? 
Organisation Health and Care Research Wales
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Awarded funding of a 6 month seedcorn pilot project through the N-CODE Research Incubator. Contribution of a postdoctoral researcher for 6 months at 0.5FTE Budget of 10K for consumables Provision of Artist in Residence Andrea Mbarushimana and funding of £2500 for her time Organisation of 2 day project kick off research incubator event Sept 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research team to deliver the research project This project will use a closed-circuit chatbot to answer real questions about living with epilepsy and measure its impact. "Life changes that moment. An MRI, hospital appointment for an EEG. Another appointment. Medications, a blur of words. An FAQ sheet, get the car picked up, get home. The next appointment is 6 months. You want an easy way to ask your questions, without fear or embarrassment and quickly. You just want your life back" (Anonymous patient, October 2022) The confidential chatbot system aims to improve health outcomes and quality of life by providing a rapid response to unanswered questions. The Chatbot will use secure data continually checked by clinicians. Patients will be involved throughout, via face-to-face creative workshops which will develop online resources. Overall changes will be measured; in hospital attendances, medications compliance, re-attendances at A&E, mortality, confidence, self-esteem and ability to talk comfortably about epilepsy.
Impact Chatbot Artistic outputs from artist Andrea Mbarushimana
Start Year 2023
 
Description Angus-Leppan: Can an Epilepsy Chatbot improve outcomes for people with epilepsy? 
Organisation Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Awarded funding of a 6 month seedcorn pilot project through the N-CODE Research Incubator. Contribution of a postdoctoral researcher for 6 months at 0.5FTE Budget of 10K for consumables Provision of Artist in Residence Andrea Mbarushimana and funding of £2500 for her time Organisation of 2 day project kick off research incubator event Sept 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research team to deliver the research project This project will use a closed-circuit chatbot to answer real questions about living with epilepsy and measure its impact. "Life changes that moment. An MRI, hospital appointment for an EEG. Another appointment. Medications, a blur of words. An FAQ sheet, get the car picked up, get home. The next appointment is 6 months. You want an easy way to ask your questions, without fear or embarrassment and quickly. You just want your life back" (Anonymous patient, October 2022) The confidential chatbot system aims to improve health outcomes and quality of life by providing a rapid response to unanswered questions. The Chatbot will use secure data continually checked by clinicians. Patients will be involved throughout, via face-to-face creative workshops which will develop online resources. Overall changes will be measured; in hospital attendances, medications compliance, re-attendances at A&E, mortality, confidence, self-esteem and ability to talk comfortably about epilepsy.
Impact Chatbot Artistic outputs from artist Andrea Mbarushimana
Start Year 2023
 
Description Angus-Leppan: Can an Epilepsy Chatbot improve outcomes for people with epilepsy? 
Organisation Swansea University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded funding of a 6 month seedcorn pilot project through the N-CODE Research Incubator. Contribution of a postdoctoral researcher for 6 months at 0.5FTE Budget of 10K for consumables Provision of Artist in Residence Andrea Mbarushimana and funding of £2500 for her time Organisation of 2 day project kick off research incubator event Sept 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research team to deliver the research project This project will use a closed-circuit chatbot to answer real questions about living with epilepsy and measure its impact. "Life changes that moment. An MRI, hospital appointment for an EEG. Another appointment. Medications, a blur of words. An FAQ sheet, get the car picked up, get home. The next appointment is 6 months. You want an easy way to ask your questions, without fear or embarrassment and quickly. You just want your life back" (Anonymous patient, October 2022) The confidential chatbot system aims to improve health outcomes and quality of life by providing a rapid response to unanswered questions. The Chatbot will use secure data continually checked by clinicians. Patients will be involved throughout, via face-to-face creative workshops which will develop online resources. Overall changes will be measured; in hospital attendances, medications compliance, re-attendances at A&E, mortality, confidence, self-esteem and ability to talk comfortably about epilepsy.
Impact Chatbot Artistic outputs from artist Andrea Mbarushimana
Start Year 2023
 
Description Angus-Leppan: Can an Epilepsy Chatbot improve outcomes for people with epilepsy? 
Organisation University of East London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded funding of a 6 month seedcorn pilot project through the N-CODE Research Incubator. Contribution of a postdoctoral researcher for 6 months at 0.5FTE Budget of 10K for consumables Provision of Artist in Residence Andrea Mbarushimana and funding of £2500 for her time Organisation of 2 day project kick off research incubator event Sept 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research team to deliver the research project This project will use a closed-circuit chatbot to answer real questions about living with epilepsy and measure its impact. "Life changes that moment. An MRI, hospital appointment for an EEG. Another appointment. Medications, a blur of words. An FAQ sheet, get the car picked up, get home. The next appointment is 6 months. You want an easy way to ask your questions, without fear or embarrassment and quickly. You just want your life back" (Anonymous patient, October 2022) The confidential chatbot system aims to improve health outcomes and quality of life by providing a rapid response to unanswered questions. The Chatbot will use secure data continually checked by clinicians. Patients will be involved throughout, via face-to-face creative workshops which will develop online resources. Overall changes will be measured; in hospital attendances, medications compliance, re-attendances at A&E, mortality, confidence, self-esteem and ability to talk comfortably about epilepsy.
Impact Chatbot Artistic outputs from artist Andrea Mbarushimana
Start Year 2023
 
Description Brigden: Prototyping a wearable solution for epileptic seizure forecasting: A transdisciplinary project (ATMOSPHERE) 
Organisation The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £34,472.43 over 12 months July 2023 to June 2024 for project 'Prototyping a wearable solution for epileptic seizure forecasting: A transdisciplinary project (ATMOSPHERE)' as an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Epilepsy is a chronic and complex neurological disorder affecting around 50 million people globally. The unpredictability of epileptic seizures is a major problem for those living with epilepsy. Seizure risk forecasting (seizure risk-assessment evaluating the likelihood of a seizure on a daily basis) could address the issue of unpredictability. There are real dangers of harm during seizure, and seizure forecasting could enable people to structure their environment and safety plan. Further, providing forecasts has the potential to reduce anxiety associated with unpredictability - not only does anxiety impact quality of life, but it is also a known trigger for seizure. Research project team to conduct the research project. For a forecasting solution to be workable in the users' day-to-day life, it must involve devices that are acceptable and feasible to users (i.e., comfortable, non-intrusive). There are technologies which directly monitor brain activity; however, these cannot be used outside of clinical settings, or are intrusive. As an alternative, non-invasive, non-medical grade devices such as smartwatches, can capture data on variables known to be predictive of seizure (e.g., anxiety, sleep deprivation). The overarching aim of this research is to investigate a seizure forecasting solution. This will involve (1) investigating mathematical models for forecasting seizure risk, (2) identifying off-the-shelf wearables devices/ sensing technologies, which are acceptable to users, and which capture the data needed for forecast modelling, and (3) designing the interface for user-reported data input and forecasting visualisations.
Impact Established a PPIE network, with n=27 individuals registered.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Brigden: Prototyping a wearable solution for epileptic seizure forecasting: A transdisciplinary project (ATMOSPHERE) 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £34,472.43 over 12 months July 2023 to June 2024 for project 'Prototyping a wearable solution for epileptic seizure forecasting: A transdisciplinary project (ATMOSPHERE)' as an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Epilepsy is a chronic and complex neurological disorder affecting around 50 million people globally. The unpredictability of epileptic seizures is a major problem for those living with epilepsy. Seizure risk forecasting (seizure risk-assessment evaluating the likelihood of a seizure on a daily basis) could address the issue of unpredictability. There are real dangers of harm during seizure, and seizure forecasting could enable people to structure their environment and safety plan. Further, providing forecasts has the potential to reduce anxiety associated with unpredictability - not only does anxiety impact quality of life, but it is also a known trigger for seizure. Research project team to conduct the research project. For a forecasting solution to be workable in the users' day-to-day life, it must involve devices that are acceptable and feasible to users (i.e., comfortable, non-intrusive). There are technologies which directly monitor brain activity; however, these cannot be used outside of clinical settings, or are intrusive. As an alternative, non-invasive, non-medical grade devices such as smartwatches, can capture data on variables known to be predictive of seizure (e.g., anxiety, sleep deprivation). The overarching aim of this research is to investigate a seizure forecasting solution. This will involve (1) investigating mathematical models for forecasting seizure risk, (2) identifying off-the-shelf wearables devices/ sensing technologies, which are acceptable to users, and which capture the data needed for forecast modelling, and (3) designing the interface for user-reported data input and forecasting visualisations.
Impact Established a PPIE network, with n=27 individuals registered.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Brigden: Prototyping a wearable solution for epileptic seizure forecasting: A transdisciplinary project (ATMOSPHERE) 
Organisation University of Bristol
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £34,472.43 over 12 months July 2023 to June 2024 for project 'Prototyping a wearable solution for epileptic seizure forecasting: A transdisciplinary project (ATMOSPHERE)' as an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Epilepsy is a chronic and complex neurological disorder affecting around 50 million people globally. The unpredictability of epileptic seizures is a major problem for those living with epilepsy. Seizure risk forecasting (seizure risk-assessment evaluating the likelihood of a seizure on a daily basis) could address the issue of unpredictability. There are real dangers of harm during seizure, and seizure forecasting could enable people to structure their environment and safety plan. Further, providing forecasts has the potential to reduce anxiety associated with unpredictability - not only does anxiety impact quality of life, but it is also a known trigger for seizure. Research project team to conduct the research project. For a forecasting solution to be workable in the users' day-to-day life, it must involve devices that are acceptable and feasible to users (i.e., comfortable, non-intrusive). There are technologies which directly monitor brain activity; however, these cannot be used outside of clinical settings, or are intrusive. As an alternative, non-invasive, non-medical grade devices such as smartwatches, can capture data on variables known to be predictive of seizure (e.g., anxiety, sleep deprivation). The overarching aim of this research is to investigate a seizure forecasting solution. This will involve (1) investigating mathematical models for forecasting seizure risk, (2) identifying off-the-shelf wearables devices/ sensing technologies, which are acceptable to users, and which capture the data needed for forecast modelling, and (3) designing the interface for user-reported data input and forecasting visualisations.
Impact Established a PPIE network, with n=27 individuals registered.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Brigden: Prototyping a wearable solution for epileptic seizure forecasting: A transdisciplinary project (ATMOSPHERE) 
Organisation University of Plymouth
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £34,472.43 over 12 months July 2023 to June 2024 for project 'Prototyping a wearable solution for epileptic seizure forecasting: A transdisciplinary project (ATMOSPHERE)' as an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Epilepsy is a chronic and complex neurological disorder affecting around 50 million people globally. The unpredictability of epileptic seizures is a major problem for those living with epilepsy. Seizure risk forecasting (seizure risk-assessment evaluating the likelihood of a seizure on a daily basis) could address the issue of unpredictability. There are real dangers of harm during seizure, and seizure forecasting could enable people to structure their environment and safety plan. Further, providing forecasts has the potential to reduce anxiety associated with unpredictability - not only does anxiety impact quality of life, but it is also a known trigger for seizure. Research project team to conduct the research project. For a forecasting solution to be workable in the users' day-to-day life, it must involve devices that are acceptable and feasible to users (i.e., comfortable, non-intrusive). There are technologies which directly monitor brain activity; however, these cannot be used outside of clinical settings, or are intrusive. As an alternative, non-invasive, non-medical grade devices such as smartwatches, can capture data on variables known to be predictive of seizure (e.g., anxiety, sleep deprivation). The overarching aim of this research is to investigate a seizure forecasting solution. This will involve (1) investigating mathematical models for forecasting seizure risk, (2) identifying off-the-shelf wearables devices/ sensing technologies, which are acceptable to users, and which capture the data needed for forecast modelling, and (3) designing the interface for user-reported data input and forecasting visualisations.
Impact Established a PPIE network, with n=27 individuals registered.
Start Year 2023
 
Description Farina: A wearable vibrotactile device to aid post-stroke rehabilitation 
Organisation Imperial College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded funding of a 6 month seedcorn pilot project through the N-CODE Research Incubator. Contribution of a research software engineer researcher for 6 months at 0.5FTE Budget of 10K for consumables Provision of Artist in Residence Anja Borowicz Richardson and funding of £2500 for her time. Organisation of 2 day project kick off research incubator event Sept 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research team to deliver the research project Stroke impacts a patient's motor function, reduces independence, and has substantial social and economic impact. Intensive rehabilitation is crucial for regaining independence, but due to resource limitations, only 60% of patients receive recommended therapy, which may still be insufficient. The study aims to improve patient mobility by increasing recommended therapy through home-assisted rehabilitation during daily living activities. After a stroke, patients experience reduced mobility due to weakened signals from the brain to the muscles, resulting in limited movement. A wearable device has been developed to detect and strength the weakened signals in the affected limb using vibration delivered by the device. By strengthening these signals, patients can recover and increase the activation of the affected muscles, enabling them to regain meaningful movements. The study aims to assess the devices abilities to detect the weakened signals and evaluate patients' perception to the device. Trials will then be run on a small number of patients to compare the rehabilitation outcomes of patients who use the device and those who do not. With positive research findings, the intention is to attract further funding to carry out a larger clinical trial.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description Farina: A wearable vibrotactile device to aid post-stroke rehabilitation 
Organisation University of Birmingham
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded funding of a 6 month seedcorn pilot project through the N-CODE Research Incubator. Contribution of a research software engineer researcher for 6 months at 0.5FTE Budget of 10K for consumables Provision of Artist in Residence Anja Borowicz Richardson and funding of £2500 for her time. Organisation of 2 day project kick off research incubator event Sept 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research team to deliver the research project Stroke impacts a patient's motor function, reduces independence, and has substantial social and economic impact. Intensive rehabilitation is crucial for regaining independence, but due to resource limitations, only 60% of patients receive recommended therapy, which may still be insufficient. The study aims to improve patient mobility by increasing recommended therapy through home-assisted rehabilitation during daily living activities. After a stroke, patients experience reduced mobility due to weakened signals from the brain to the muscles, resulting in limited movement. A wearable device has been developed to detect and strength the weakened signals in the affected limb using vibration delivered by the device. By strengthening these signals, patients can recover and increase the activation of the affected muscles, enabling them to regain meaningful movements. The study aims to assess the devices abilities to detect the weakened signals and evaluate patients' perception to the device. Trials will then be run on a small number of patients to compare the rehabilitation outcomes of patients who use the device and those who do not. With positive research findings, the intention is to attract further funding to carry out a larger clinical trial.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description Kornysheva: Non-invasive Brain-computer-interfaces for Remote Rehab and Training of Motor Skills 
Organisation Coventry University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £34,464.65 over 12 months Dec 2023-Nov 2024 for project 'Non-invasive Brain-computer-interfaces for Remote Rehab and Training of Motor Skills' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. n the UK, 1.3 million stroke survivors and 145,000 Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients encounter movement problems, hindering work and independence, costing around £42 billion a year. Current state-of-the-art rehabilitation fails to reach all patients and we need methods in which the dose of therapy can be increased without requiring an increase in resources. While invasive brain-computer-interfaces (BCIs) have been used for prosthetic control, closed-loop brain stimulation, and neurofeedback, they come with multiple health risks and costs with only a small proportion of patients being eligible. In contrast, current non-invasive brain recording technology, such as functional infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and EEG, have so far focussed on decoding simple movements rather than more complex naturalistic action sequences and their associated neuronal activity. In this high-risk-high-gain seed project, we aim to address three key translational research questions: How can we provide individuals with access to their internal brain states associated with action planning in real-time? Which neurofeedback protocol is suitable to enable individuals to control these states? Will achieving target brain states during action planning improve subsequent action execution? The project aims to deliver the groundwork towards a first prototype of a portable EEG neurofeedback application that allows a participant to monitor and learn to control their hidden neural action planning activity in real-time in order to optimise action performance. The readout and feedback on the internal action-related electrophysiological patterns may facilitate innovative neurotechnological advances for remote rehabilitation of patients with impairment of manual coordination to train beneficial preparatory patterns prior to initiating an action and help provide remote, individualised, patient-centred training.
Impact Just started
Start Year 2023
 
Description Kornysheva: Non-invasive Brain-computer-interfaces for Remote Rehab and Training of Motor Skills 
Organisation Falmouth University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £34,464.65 over 12 months Dec 2023-Nov 2024 for project 'Non-invasive Brain-computer-interfaces for Remote Rehab and Training of Motor Skills' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. n the UK, 1.3 million stroke survivors and 145,000 Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients encounter movement problems, hindering work and independence, costing around £42 billion a year. Current state-of-the-art rehabilitation fails to reach all patients and we need methods in which the dose of therapy can be increased without requiring an increase in resources. While invasive brain-computer-interfaces (BCIs) have been used for prosthetic control, closed-loop brain stimulation, and neurofeedback, they come with multiple health risks and costs with only a small proportion of patients being eligible. In contrast, current non-invasive brain recording technology, such as functional infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and EEG, have so far focussed on decoding simple movements rather than more complex naturalistic action sequences and their associated neuronal activity. In this high-risk-high-gain seed project, we aim to address three key translational research questions: How can we provide individuals with access to their internal brain states associated with action planning in real-time? Which neurofeedback protocol is suitable to enable individuals to control these states? Will achieving target brain states during action planning improve subsequent action execution? The project aims to deliver the groundwork towards a first prototype of a portable EEG neurofeedback application that allows a participant to monitor and learn to control their hidden neural action planning activity in real-time in order to optimise action performance. The readout and feedback on the internal action-related electrophysiological patterns may facilitate innovative neurotechnological advances for remote rehabilitation of patients with impairment of manual coordination to train beneficial preparatory patterns prior to initiating an action and help provide remote, individualised, patient-centred training.
Impact Just started
Start Year 2023
 
Description Kornysheva: Non-invasive Brain-computer-interfaces for Remote Rehab and Training of Motor Skills 
Organisation University College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £34,464.65 over 12 months Dec 2023-Nov 2024 for project 'Non-invasive Brain-computer-interfaces for Remote Rehab and Training of Motor Skills' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. n the UK, 1.3 million stroke survivors and 145,000 Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients encounter movement problems, hindering work and independence, costing around £42 billion a year. Current state-of-the-art rehabilitation fails to reach all patients and we need methods in which the dose of therapy can be increased without requiring an increase in resources. While invasive brain-computer-interfaces (BCIs) have been used for prosthetic control, closed-loop brain stimulation, and neurofeedback, they come with multiple health risks and costs with only a small proportion of patients being eligible. In contrast, current non-invasive brain recording technology, such as functional infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and EEG, have so far focussed on decoding simple movements rather than more complex naturalistic action sequences and their associated neuronal activity. In this high-risk-high-gain seed project, we aim to address three key translational research questions: How can we provide individuals with access to their internal brain states associated with action planning in real-time? Which neurofeedback protocol is suitable to enable individuals to control these states? Will achieving target brain states during action planning improve subsequent action execution? The project aims to deliver the groundwork towards a first prototype of a portable EEG neurofeedback application that allows a participant to monitor and learn to control their hidden neural action planning activity in real-time in order to optimise action performance. The readout and feedback on the internal action-related electrophysiological patterns may facilitate innovative neurotechnological advances for remote rehabilitation of patients with impairment of manual coordination to train beneficial preparatory patterns prior to initiating an action and help provide remote, individualised, patient-centred training.
Impact Just started
Start Year 2023
 
Description Palomino: Re-writing Loneliness in Dementia 
Organisation Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £19,319 over 4 months for project Re-writing loneliness in Dementia. As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. Loneliness has wide ranging detrimental effects from increased risk of depression and physical health conditions to negative impact on cognition. It is also associated with increased all-cause mortality. Current interventions to reduce loneliness are beneficial, however, barriers to face-to-face groups including rural isolation, intersectionality and co-morbidities highlight the need for alternative provision. The long-term vision of this project is to develop technology that can measure loneliness and cognitive decline and provide personalised interventions to reduce loneliness. The project will create an initial natural language processing algorithm to identify loneliness from stories within text written by people with dementia. We will test this algorithm on existing data repositories and use statistical methods to measure and improve its accuracy and visualise our results. We will produce a short film to communicate our results to specialist and non-specialist audiences to aid inclusivity.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2024
 
Description Palomino: Re-writing Loneliness in Dementia 
Organisation Falmouth University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £19,319 over 4 months for project Re-writing loneliness in Dementia. As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. Loneliness has wide ranging detrimental effects from increased risk of depression and physical health conditions to negative impact on cognition. It is also associated with increased all-cause mortality. Current interventions to reduce loneliness are beneficial, however, barriers to face-to-face groups including rural isolation, intersectionality and co-morbidities highlight the need for alternative provision. The long-term vision of this project is to develop technology that can measure loneliness and cognitive decline and provide personalised interventions to reduce loneliness. The project will create an initial natural language processing algorithm to identify loneliness from stories within text written by people with dementia. We will test this algorithm on existing data repositories and use statistical methods to measure and improve its accuracy and visualise our results. We will produce a short film to communicate our results to specialist and non-specialist audiences to aid inclusivity.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2024
 
Description Palomino: Re-writing Loneliness in Dementia 
Organisation University of Aberdeen
Department Paediatrics Aberdeen
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £19,319 over 4 months for project Re-writing loneliness in Dementia. As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. Loneliness has wide ranging detrimental effects from increased risk of depression and physical health conditions to negative impact on cognition. It is also associated with increased all-cause mortality. Current interventions to reduce loneliness are beneficial, however, barriers to face-to-face groups including rural isolation, intersectionality and co-morbidities highlight the need for alternative provision. The long-term vision of this project is to develop technology that can measure loneliness and cognitive decline and provide personalised interventions to reduce loneliness. The project will create an initial natural language processing algorithm to identify loneliness from stories within text written by people with dementia. We will test this algorithm on existing data repositories and use statistical methods to measure and improve its accuracy and visualise our results. We will produce a short film to communicate our results to specialist and non-specialist audiences to aid inclusivity.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2024
 
Description Palomino: Re-writing Loneliness in Dementia 
Organisation University of Plymouth
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £19,319 over 4 months for project Re-writing loneliness in Dementia. As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. Loneliness has wide ranging detrimental effects from increased risk of depression and physical health conditions to negative impact on cognition. It is also associated with increased all-cause mortality. Current interventions to reduce loneliness are beneficial, however, barriers to face-to-face groups including rural isolation, intersectionality and co-morbidities highlight the need for alternative provision. The long-term vision of this project is to develop technology that can measure loneliness and cognitive decline and provide personalised interventions to reduce loneliness. The project will create an initial natural language processing algorithm to identify loneliness from stories within text written by people with dementia. We will test this algorithm on existing data repositories and use statistical methods to measure and improve its accuracy and visualise our results. We will produce a short film to communicate our results to specialist and non-specialist audiences to aid inclusivity.
Impact none yet
Start Year 2024
 
Description Shankar/Laugharne. Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world 
Organisation Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £32,725 over 12 months Sept 2023-Aug 2024 for project 'Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 2-5% of the population globally. The long-term aim of this research is to increase accessibility of care by developing a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD in areas of the world who have little access to clinicians. This project addresses what are the neurophysiological properties of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) identified in its effectiveness as a treatment of PTSD and examines if these neurophysiological properties can be translated into a digital treatment. It will develop a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD access effective, personalised, holistic help with a smartphone or computer when clinical services are not accessible. The tool will create a virtual peer-support community and will use smartphone and wearables data to monitor progress.
Impact Publication: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1049/htl2.12055
Start Year 2023
 
Description Shankar/Laugharne. Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world 
Organisation The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £32,725 over 12 months Sept 2023-Aug 2024 for project 'Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 2-5% of the population globally. The long-term aim of this research is to increase accessibility of care by developing a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD in areas of the world who have little access to clinicians. This project addresses what are the neurophysiological properties of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) identified in its effectiveness as a treatment of PTSD and examines if these neurophysiological properties can be translated into a digital treatment. It will develop a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD access effective, personalised, holistic help with a smartphone or computer when clinical services are not accessible. The tool will create a virtual peer-support community and will use smartphone and wearables data to monitor progress.
Impact Publication: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1049/htl2.12055
Start Year 2023
 
Description Shankar/Laugharne. Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world 
Organisation University of Derby
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £32,725 over 12 months Sept 2023-Aug 2024 for project 'Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 2-5% of the population globally. The long-term aim of this research is to increase accessibility of care by developing a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD in areas of the world who have little access to clinicians. This project addresses what are the neurophysiological properties of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) identified in its effectiveness as a treatment of PTSD and examines if these neurophysiological properties can be translated into a digital treatment. It will develop a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD access effective, personalised, holistic help with a smartphone or computer when clinical services are not accessible. The tool will create a virtual peer-support community and will use smartphone and wearables data to monitor progress.
Impact Publication: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1049/htl2.12055
Start Year 2023
 
Description Shankar/Laugharne. Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world 
Organisation University of Lincoln
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £32,725 over 12 months Sept 2023-Aug 2024 for project 'Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 2-5% of the population globally. The long-term aim of this research is to increase accessibility of care by developing a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD in areas of the world who have little access to clinicians. This project addresses what are the neurophysiological properties of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) identified in its effectiveness as a treatment of PTSD and examines if these neurophysiological properties can be translated into a digital treatment. It will develop a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD access effective, personalised, holistic help with a smartphone or computer when clinical services are not accessible. The tool will create a virtual peer-support community and will use smartphone and wearables data to monitor progress.
Impact Publication: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1049/htl2.12055
Start Year 2023
 
Description Shankar/Laugharne. Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world 
Organisation University of Plymouth
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £32,725 over 12 months Sept 2023-Aug 2024 for project 'Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 2-5% of the population globally. The long-term aim of this research is to increase accessibility of care by developing a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD in areas of the world who have little access to clinicians. This project addresses what are the neurophysiological properties of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) identified in its effectiveness as a treatment of PTSD and examines if these neurophysiological properties can be translated into a digital treatment. It will develop a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD access effective, personalised, holistic help with a smartphone or computer when clinical services are not accessible. The tool will create a virtual peer-support community and will use smartphone and wearables data to monitor progress.
Impact Publication: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1049/htl2.12055
Start Year 2023
 
Description Shankar/Laugharne. Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world 
Organisation University of Warwick
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Awarded pilot funding of £32,725 over 12 months Sept 2023-Aug 2024 for project 'Assessment and treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a digital world' As an outcome of the 1st N-CODE Study Group held March 2023.
Collaborator Contribution Research project team to conduct the research project. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is 2-5% of the population globally. The long-term aim of this research is to increase accessibility of care by developing a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD in areas of the world who have little access to clinicians. This project addresses what are the neurophysiological properties of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) identified in its effectiveness as a treatment of PTSD and examines if these neurophysiological properties can be translated into a digital treatment. It will develop a digital tool to help people suffering from PTSD access effective, personalised, holistic help with a smartphone or computer when clinical services are not accessible. The tool will create a virtual peer-support community and will use smartphone and wearables data to monitor progress.
Impact Publication: https://ietresearch.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1049/htl2.12055
Start Year 2023
 
Title Prototype Epilepsy chatbot 
Description Prototype Epilepsy Chatbot to improve outcomes for people with epilepsy 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2024 
Impact none yet 
URL https://www.n-code.org/news/can-an-epilepsy-chatbot-improve-outcomes-for-people-with-epilepsy/
 
Description HealthTech Integrates 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Took part in a panel discussion on the use of digital tools for biomarkers of neurological health
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.lifescienceintegrates.com/event/healthtech-integrates-2023/
 
Description Hot Topics Workshop: Co-creation of digital health and neurotechnology for novel therapies in functional neurological disorders (FND) Oct 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The workshop was held on 11/10/23, hosted by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). The workshop will be attended by most of the active researchers in FND in UK, including Prof Jon Stone, Prof Alan Carson, Prof Richard Brown and Dr Mahinda Yogarajah, among others.

The workshop is designed to foster a creative and inclusive environment where people with functional neurological disorders, healthcare professionals, researchers, technologists, and other relevant experts can work together to design and refine digital tools that support self-management, address the treatment gap, and improve the quality of life for those affected by functional neurological disorders (FNDs).

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a prevalent multinetwork condition with various clinical manifestations, including motor, sensory and cognitive disturbances. It is often the most common cause of neurology inpatient admissions and outpatient referrals and has an incidence similar to conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease; but presents unique challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Its economic impact is profound, affecting patients, healthcare systems, and the broader economy. Despite its widespread occurrence and substantial healthcare costs, FND remains stigmatized and often misunderstood, further complicating access to specialized care.

Addressing FND's complexities necessitates innovative solutions, such as the integration of digital health tools. These tools offer promising avenues for patient education, symptom monitoring, personalized therapeutic interventions, and reducing barriers to specialist care. Remote technologies enable real-time tracking of symptoms and treatment effectiveness, fostering dynamic patient-provider interaction. Furthermore, digital platforms can facilitate comprehensive, multidisciplinary care, addressing FND's neurological, psychological, and social aspects.

In light of this, the upcoming workshop, "Co-creation of Digital technologies for the management of Functional Neurological Disorders in the community" aims to bring together individuals with FND, healthcare professionals, researchers, technologists, and other experts. This collaborative environment will promote the design and refinement of digital tools for improved diagnosis, symptom monitoring, self-management, and overall quality of life for those affected by FND.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.n-code.org/activity/co-creation-of-digital-health-and-neurotechnology-for-novel-therapie...
 
Description Hot Topics workshop: Low-resolution time series data analysis in neurotechnology 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact In this workshop, we bought together quantitative scientists, clinicians, and representatives from industry to discuss technologies that facilitate community-based care of neurological disorders. Topics will include:

- Exploration of the most relevant healthcare challenges in the community,
- Development of predictive models based on low-resolution data,
- Optimisation techniques (maximal information from minimal infrastructure),
- Development of automated pipelines for data handling.

The workshop will begin with a series of short presentations where key stakeholders will discuss current challenges in the acquisition, processing, and/or analysis of neurological data outside of a clinical setting and the potential of recent data-analytic tools to address them (optimisation techniques, machine learning, AI, etc.). This will be followed by a networking activity, where participants will discuss these challenges, develop collaborative links, and initiate a wider discussion on the importance of interdisciplinary approaches for facilitating community-based care.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.n-code.org/activity/low-resolution-time-series-data-analysis-in-neurotechnology/
 
Description N-CODE Study Group March 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Week long Study group held in Cornwall, March 2023. The venue was chosen to highlight the needs of rural communities, such as in Cornwall, where accessing neurological care in hospitals is challenging. The development and use of neurotechnologies in the community for the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of neurological, neuropsychiatric or neurodevelopmental conditions may help benefit the lives of patients in such communities.
Attendees at the event were from a wide range of backgrounds and brought together a fantastic mix of skills and experience at all levels of career stage.
Four challenges of unmet need were presented on day 1:
-Re-writing Loneliness in Dementia
-Can Data from Smart Watches Predict When Epileptic Seizures Will Occur?
-Non-invasive Brain-computer-interfaces for Remote Rehab and Training of Motor Skills
-Assessment and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Exploring Neurotechnological Solutions in a Digital World
Researchers then self-organised into groups around the challenge(s) that most interested them and worked collaboratively in a "hackathon" style to co-create solutions. There was an opportunity to present an update on progress mid-way though the event and then build in the feedback and ideas into the ongoing discussions. On the final day the groups presented back their progress on addressing the challenge and the plans for co-creation of digital and technological solutions.
After the event the groups produced 4 summary reports of the discussions at the Study Group.
N-CODE has subsequently funded four pump priming projects as a direct outcome of the Study Group which are summarised here:
Investigating a Wearable Solution for Epileptic Seizure Forecasting: A Transdisciplinary Project
Non-invasive Brain-computer-interfaces for Remote Rehab and Training of Motor Skills
Assessment and Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in a Digital World
Re-writing Loneliness in Dementia
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.n-code.org/activity/first-n-code-stakeholder-led-study-group/
 
Description N-CODE pitch at Innovate UK KTN neurotechnology Conference Feb 2024 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Pitch on the N-CODE Network to the Innovate UK KTN Neurology Confence , February 2024
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/neurotechnology-conference/
 
Description N-CODE website development 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Development and publication of the N-CODE website to communicate the activities of the Network+
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023,2024
URL https://www.n-code.org/
 
Description Network Launch event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Launch event for the N-CODE Networks plus. October 2022
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Neurotechnology Networks workshop Nov 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Neurotechnology Networks workshop at the Turing Institute November 2023. Introduction to the work of the network, sessions on PPIE, Inclusivity and Ethics, with a parallel session on managing networks. Consultation and discussion about research challenges in Neurotechnologies
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023