Members

Prof Andrew Dilley PhD
Senior Lecturer in Anatomy, Brighton and Sussex Medical School

How does inflammation affect the function of neurons that transmit pain information?

"The main focus of my research is to elucidate the peripheral mechanisms that lead to neuropathic pain. We are particularly interested in patients who have no apparent nerve injury on clinical examination. Such patients include those with repetitive strain disorders and lower back pain. Work performed by my team suggests that nerve inflammation may be responsible for symptoms. Our laboratory studies have implicated a role for axonal transport disruption and have identified key pharmacological targets. Using imaging techniques, we are also beginning to identify sites of nerve inflammation in patients. Together, we aim to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients with chronic pain."

Techniques: electrophysiology • behavioural testing • immunohistochemistry • ultrasound • magnetic resonance imaging

Conditions: non-specific arm pain (repetitive strain injury) • complex regional pain syndrome • lower back pain • chemotherapy-induced neuropathy

Prof Ricardo Governo PhD
Senior Lecturer Anatomy Education, Kings College London

Department of Anatomy
Biosciences Education
HR 1.6
1st Floor Henriette Raphael Building
Guy’s Campus,
King’s College London,
London
SE1 1UL

Email: ricardo.governo@kcl.ac.uk

How mood affects patients' ability to cope, or not, with pain.

"My central research interest is to use fMRI to investigate how conscious experiences colour the manner in which chronic pain patients are able to perceive or tolerate pain. I am keen to observe which brain regions encode the effects from antidepressants or other non-analgesic drugs and to expand on any research looking at non-opioid related treatments for chronic pain. Previous work has demonstrated the impact of gabapentin in reducing nerve injury-related pain."

Techniques: magnetic Resonance Imaging – functional MRI (fMRI) in models of acute and neuropathic pain • effects of opiates on respiratory variability using fMRI • combined fMRI and EEG • correlation analysis of fMRI with other physiological measures such as oxygen saturation or morphine plasma concentration

Conditions: depression, catastrophysing or anxiety related to chronic pain conditions, including that from vulvodynia or fibromyalgia • conditions resulting in brain hypoxia

Dr Peter Bauer MC FRCA
Consultant Anaesthetist, Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre, Princess Royal Hospital

Regional anaesthesia and ultrasound-guidance; advanced monitoring; difficult airway; education.

Dr Wendy Caddye PhD MSc, BSc PGCHSCE FHEA RGN
Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist in Acute Pain management, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Acute Pain Management.

"I work full-time managing inpatient (secondary care) pain and educating staff. In recent years, I have developed an interest in the use of anti-convulsants and local anaesthetics to reduce opioid side effects, dependence and chronic postsurgical pain. I am also interested in educating staff and run a work-based learning module in acute pain that is validated and can be accessed by staff at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust to gain 20 credits at the University of Brighton at degree and masters level."

Dr Emma Chojnowska MA MB BChir FRCA FFFPMRCA
Consultant in Anaesthesia and Chronic Pain Management, St Richard's Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Community-based pain management; improving patient selection for interventional chronic pain procedures; spinal pain; postoperative chronic pain.

Thomas Dawes MBBS 

Department of Anaesthesia
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
East Grinstead
RH19 3DZ
UK

Email: trdawes@doctors.org.uk

Ben Eden-Green MBBS

Department of Anaesthesia
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
East Grinstead
RH19 3DZ
UK

Email; ben.eden-green@nhs.net

Julian Giles MBBS

Department of Anaesthesia
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
East Grinstead
RH19 3DZ
UK

Email: jwgiles2@yahoo.co.uk

Dr Jane Greening PhD MCSP FMACP
Honorary Research Fellow, Brighton and Sussex Medical School

Minor peripheral nerve injuries in diffuse upper limb pain syndromes.

"My research has focused on minor nerve injury and the use of imaging technologies and physiological measures to identify altered peripheral nerve function. This has suggested minor neuropathy as a cause of limb pain in patients with non-specific arm pain (RSI). Together with Dr Andrew Dilley, we have developed methodologies using ultrasound to accurately measure nerve dynamics during limb movements. More recently, we have identified nerve inflammation on MRI in patients with non-specific limb pain. We have recently received a grant to look for signs of nerve inflammation using MRI in patients with chronic pain following whiplash injury."

Techniques: MRI • ultrasound • pain physiological testing • peripheral nerve function tests

Conditions: non-specific arm pain • whiplash injuries • minor nerve injuries

Dr Hubert van Griensven MSc PhD MCSP DipAc
Consultant Physiotherapist; Research Fellow, University of Brighton

Pain physiology in clinical practice; central sensitisation; post-surgical pain; oriental medicine including acupuncture and exercise.

Dr Catriona Good MBChB FFRad FRCR PhD
Clinical Lead Neuroradiologist; Honorary Senior Lecturer BSMS; Research Lead KSS School of Radiology, Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Computational neuroanatomy; voxel-based morphometry, dementia and neurodegeneration; peripheral nerve imaging; complex regional pain syndrome; brain tumour imaging.

"I am currently a Wellcome Trust career development fellow. I have developed, optimised and validated voxel-based morphometry in a large normal database of human brains, for ageing and asymmetries, brain plasticity in London taxi drivers and in multiple neurological conditions. These include Alzheimer’s Disease and FTLD (Semantic Dementia), schizophrenia, cluster headache, migraine, multiple system atrophy, Tourette’s and epilepsy. Past work experience include the genotype-phenotype mapping of the X chromosome in patients with Turner syndrome, which paved the way for numerous other conditions such as Huntington’s disease or schizophrenia."

Techniques: MRI • CT • voxel-based morphometry • neurography

Conditions: dementia imaging • peripheral nerve imaging in chronic regional pain syndrome • multiple sclerosis • brain tumour • movement disorder imaging

Dr Carl Hardwidge BM FRCS
Consultant Neurosurgeon and honorary senior Lecturer BSMS; Clinical Director of Neurosciences Stroke and Rehabilitation, Brighton and Sussex University Hospital Trust, Department of Neurosurgery, Hurstwood Park Hospital, Haywards Heath

Neurosurgical management of facial pain; use of spinal cord simulation in the management of pain.

“I have more than 20 years experience as a consultant neurosurgeon accessing and treating patients with Trigeminal neuralgia. I have also experience in spinal cord stimulation.”

Conditions: facial pain and trigeminal neuralgia • spinal cord and radicular pain

Dr Clair Hebron BSc MSc PhD MMACP MCSP
Senior Lecturer Physiotherapy, University of Brighton

Musculoskeletal physiotherapy; exercise prescription; health promotion; lived experiences of patients and physiotherapists in a musculoskeletal setting.

"My clinical duties include treating patients with musculoskeletal conditions. I have an interest in health promotion and patient centred care as well as in all aspects of patients’ physical and mental wellbeing. My research explores physiotherapists’ and patients’ experiences in MSK physiotherapy. In addition, I am interested in aspects of patients’ care that include empowerment, exercise prescription, adherence and health promotion."

Techniques: measuring movement using electromagnetic sensors (Fastrak) and force using force plates • measuring pain using pressure algometry • patient-reported pain outcomes measures • quantitative research methodology including using a phenomenological approach

Conditions: low back pain

Johan Holte MSCP MManipTh
Senior Lecturer Physiotherapy, University of Brighton

Clinical lead for the spine and pain service; spinal pain (including chronic pain).

"I have an interest in spinal pain and biopsychosocial models, as well as developing classification systems for back pain based on movement behaviours."

Conditions: spinal pain, including chronic pain

Jonathan Kenyon MSc BSc MMACP MCSP
Pain Extended Scope Practitioner; Physiotherapy Clinical Team Leader, Department of Pain Medicine, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Helping people understand and manage their pain.

Dr Panayiotis Koumellis MSc MRCP FRCR
Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist, Hurstwood Park, Neurosciences Centre, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Imaging of the nervous system; vascular and spinal intervention; stroke and neurointervention.

Ifigeneia Mavridou EngD

Emteq Ltd
Sussex Innovation Centre
Brighton
BN1 9SB
UK

Emai: imavridou@bournemouth.ac.uk

Charles Nduka MD FRCS

Department of Plastic Surgery & Burns
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
East Grinstead
RH19 3DZ
UK

Email: cnduka@gmail.com

Dr Kathryn Newns (Katie)

Clinical Psychologist
Director
Applied Psychology Solutions

Email: knewns@apsy.co.uk

Aedin O'Carroll BSc MCSP
Senior Physiotherapist, Hove Polyclinic, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Chronic pain and the functional restoration programme.

Kirsty Pendleton BSc MSCP HCPC reg. MAACP
Senior Physiotherapist for Mid Sussex Pain Management Programme, Princess Royal Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Management of long-term pain in adults.

"I am trained in a wide range of techniques/therapeutic interventions. I have a particular interest in acupuncture and exercise therapy, with a special interest in movement control and pilates."

Techniques: acupuncture • exercise therapy

Conditions: hypermobility/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome • fibromyalgia

Dr Colette Ridehalgh BSc MSc PhD MCSP MMACP
Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Brighton

Do Physiotherapy modalities help people with neuropathic pain, particularly spinally referred leg pain?

"I am interested in the presentation and pathophysiology of nerve compression conditions. My research has looked into the effects of a physiotherapy intervention in sub-groups of individuals with spinally referred leg pain. There appear to be responders and non-responders to treatment, and at present the mechanisms for this is not clear. I am also interested in nerve mechanics, and how physiotherapy interventions may influence nerve excursion."

Techniques: ultrasound imaging • pressure pain thresholds • vibration thresholds • neurodynamic techniques

Conditions: radicular pain • carpal tunnel syndrome • tarsal tunnel syndrome • thoracic outlet syndrome • work-related upper limb disorders • diabetic neuropathy

Claire Rosten PhD

School of Health Sciences
University of Brighton
Brighton
BN1 9PH
UK

Email: C.E.Rosten@brighton.ac.uk

Dr Simon Thorp MB ChB DA MRCA FCARCSI FFPMCAI
Consultant in anaesthetics and Pain Medicine; Hon senior lecturer BSMS, Hove Poly Clinic, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Anaesthesia for osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP) surgery

"Lead Consultant in Pain Medicine to the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, whereby I am clinically responsible for the delivery of Pain Medicine to the Trust."

Belinda Tunley BSc GradDipPhys MCSP
Pain Specialist Physiotherapist, Hove Polyclinic, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

CRPS; graded motor imagery/mirror therapy; mindfulness; acceptance and commitment therapy; motivational interviewing; joint hypermobility syndrome.

"I work as the physiotherapist on the outpatient pain management programme at Hove Polyclinic and also work one to one with patients with chronic pain. Recently I have also worked part-time at the residential pain management programme (Input) at St Thomas's Hospital London. Special interests include the management of CRPS – I have completed the Graded Motor Imagery Course (which includes Mirror Box Work) and also Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is the style employed on the pain management programme at Hove Polyclinic and Input. I have also completed courses in Mindfulness and Motivation Interviewing, which are used in our work on the pain management programme."

Conditions: chronic pain

Dr Stephen Ward MBBS FRCA FFPMRCA
Consultant in Pain Medicine, Princess Royal Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Evidence-based medicine and spinal pain.

Chair of the NICE Guideline on low back pain and sciatica and a member of the Cochrane back group.

Dr Stephan Hugo Weber MD FRCA FFPMRCA
Consultant in Anaesthesia plus Acute and Chronic Pain Management, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Building a state-of-the-art pain service.

Techniques: cervical and lumbar facet joints injections and radio frequency nerve lesions • greater occipital nerve block • stellate ganglion block • coeliac plexus block • superior hypogastric plexus block • genicular blocks • root blocks

Conditions: neuropathic pain • cervical spine pain • lower back pain