Prof. Thomas Kinfe

Neurosurgery, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen

In general, we aim to implement novel technologies such as Robotics and brain-computer interfaces to treat a variety of neurological disorders. Furthermore, we steadily investigate innovative operative procedures such as MR-based Functional Neurosurgery using low-field MRI (0.5 T). I have a particular, personal interest in the clinical treatment and study of objective biomarkers/predictive factors of patients with chronic refractory pain syndrome, who are treated using electrical (DBS, SCS, ONS, PENS, VNS) and biochemical (pharmacotherapy) neuromodulation. To date, this is based on subjective patient-specific assessments (headache diary, pain scales). To improve this short-come we assess the clinical value of molecular and digital phenotyping of chronic pain patients treated with neuromodulation therapies.

Research projects

  • Robotic-assisted Functional Neurosurgery and Stereotaxy
  • Molecular and digital phenotyping in chronic pain patients under neuromodulation therapies. Cooperation Prof. Rohleder (Psychology/Health Sciences) and Prof Eskofier (Dept. of Machine Learning and Data Analytics)
  • MR-based Brain Stimulation using low-field (0.5 T) MRI. Cooperation Prof. Uder (Radiology), Siemens and ClearPoint Inc.
  • A General hybrid interface with human cortical and spinal motoneurons for motor control research in patients with muscle paralysis due to cerebral stroke and/or spinal cord injury. Cooperation Prof. Del Vecchio Chair of Neuromuscular Physiology and Neural Interfacing Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, AIBE

Current projects

  • P063: Assessment of neuroinflammatory changes in chronic pain patients under spinal cord stimulation

    (FAU Funds)

    Term: 1. September 2020 - 31. July 2024
    Clinical and animal studies implicate neuroinflammatory features (interleukines, chemokines, adipokines, oxytocin, alarmins) as part of the pathophysiology. BurstDR-SCS and DRG-SCS stimulation present a paradigm shift in current neurostimulation to address the treatment of CPSP-associated pain. Such molecular analysis may underpin the emerging role of CPSP-related molecular patterns as potential biomarkers to reliably reproduce spinal stimulation effects.

Recent publications

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Related Research Fields

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