Neuromodulation Network

Committing to advance the understanding and treatment of brain disorders through the integration of neuromodulation research. It aims to foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders—including academia, mental health institutions, industry, and individuals with lived experience—to enhance the application of neuromodulation techniques such as electroconvulsive therapy, vagal nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial electric stimulation, and deep brain stimulation.

History

The Neuromodulation Network was established in 2024 and consists of a diverse group of neuromodulation researchers, including a diverse combination of members based on different neurostimulation techniques, academic backgrounds, countries of origin, career stages and gender. 

We are committed to fostering collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and industry leaders to drive innovation in neuromodulation for psychiatric and neurological disorders. By integrating cutting-edge research, technological advancements, and clinical expertise, we aim to enhance precision medicine approaches, optimize treatment efficacy, and expand access to evidence-based neuromodulation therapies. Our network promotes education, knowledge exchange, and translational research, bridging the gap between fundamental neuroscience and real-world clinical applications. Through interdisciplinary partnerships and patient-centered initiatives, we strive to establish neuromodulation as a cornerstone of modern neuropsychiatric treatment, ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by brain disorders. 

Odile van den Heuvel, the Netherlands; Jonathan Repple, Germany, and Roel Mocking, the Netherlands

Goals

1

Neuroscience Applied: bridging the gap between basic research and clinical application, we emphasize translational potential and the development of individualized stimulation targets to optimize patient outcomes. 

2

Education and training: we are dedicated to creating comprehensive educational modules and hands-on training opportunities to disseminate knowledge and foster expertise in neuromodulation. 

3

Collaborative research and funding: establishing a platform for collaborative research endeavours, we aim to facilitate funding acquisition for large multinational projects in the neuromodulation field, also aligning with industry partners. 

4

Consensus building through the Delphi Process: We utilize the Delphi method to achieve consensus on critical research questions and methodologies, guiding our research agenda. 

5

Dissemination: we coordinate initiatives to reduce stigma surrounding neurostimulation techniques and support their implementation in areas of need, with active engagement from the public and those with lived experience. 

6

Innovation: we support the exploration of novel neurostimulation methods while addressing regulatory, implementation, and ethical challenges through dedicated task forces. 

 

7

Interaction: regular online meetings and annual in-person gatherings will ensure ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange, promoting the formation of specialized subgroups to address specific research challenges. 

Core members
Member name Institution City Country
Ana Ganho Avila Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Interventions  Coimbra Portugal
Chris Baeken Ghent University Ghent Belgium
Jean-Marie Batail Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier / Rennes University Rennes France
Jovana Bjekic Center for Neuroscience and Neuromodulation / University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
Jerome Brunelin Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier Bron France
Tiago Costa Newcastle University / CNTW NHS Trust Newcastle upon Tyne United Kingdom
Annemiek Dols University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht The Netherlands 
Piotr Jażdżyk Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology Warsaw Poland
Astrid Kibleur Université Savoie Mont Blanc Chambery France
Monika Klirova National Institute of Mental Health / Charles University Prague Czechia
Debby Klooster Eindhoven University of Technology Eindhoven The Netherlands
Roel Mocking Amsterdam UMC / University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands
Leif Oltedal Haukeland University Hospital / University of Bergen Bergen Norway
Nils Opel University Hospital Jena / German Centre for Mental Health  Jena Germany
Katya Rubia Institute of Psychiatry / King's College London London United Kingdom
Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah Goethe University Frankfurt / University Hospital Frankfurt Germany
Ingo Willuhn Amsterdam UMC / Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience Amsterdam The  Netherlands 
Shell members

Member name

Institution

City

Country

Sara Assecondi

University of Trento

Trento

Italy

Ralf Berninger

FBI Medizintechnik GmbH

Taufkirchen

Germany

Bart de Beurs

patient representative from Amsterdam UMC

Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Bernardo Dell'Osso

University of Milano

Milan

Italy

Julia García-Fuster

University of the Balearic Islands (UIB)

Palma

Spain

Mark Glencorse

LivaNova

London

United Kingdom

Colleen Hamlin

BrainsWay; Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Winston-Salem, NC

USA

Christoph Kraus

Medical University of Vienna

Vienna

Austria

Andrea Kühn

Charite University Hospital

Berlin

Germany

Mika Nikander

Sooma Oy

Helsinki

Finland

Axel Nordenskjold

Orebro University

Orebro

Sweden

Frank Padberg

Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich

Munich

Germany

Stefano Pallanti

Institute for Neurosciences

Florence

Italy

Maria Semkovska

University of Southern Denmark

Odense

Denmark

Pascal Sienaert

University Psychiatric Centre KU Leuven

Leuven

Belgium

Veerle Visser-Vandewalle

University of Cologne

Cologne

Germany

Allan Young

King’s College London

London

United Kingdom

Early Career Shell members
Member name Institution City Country
Maarten Laroy KU Leuven Leuven Belgium
Sergi Lopez Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge Barcelona Spain
Kilian Abellaneda Perez University of Lleida / Institut Guttmann Barcelona Spain
Victoria Stiglbauer Charité Berlin Germany
Iris Dalhuisen Radboudumc Nijmegen The Netherlands
Early Career Academy members

Member name

Institution

City

Country

Sara Costi 

University of Oxford 

Oxford

United Kingdom

Chiara Montemitro

University of Ferrara

Ferrara

Italy

Courses

Access the ECNP Knowledge Hub where you can find online courses with high-quality lectures from expert speakers, organised by the Networks.

Neuromodulation: from mechanism to clinical application in psychiatry

The Neuromodulation Network organised this ECNP Course which examines the evidence base for mechanisms of action and clinical applications of various neuromodulation modalities in psychiatry.

Enrol to the course