Dr. Berta Freixer, a researcher and neurosurgeon at the IIB Sant Pau, has been awarded the Neuroscience grant from the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery (SENEC) to carry out the project “Intraoperative Neurophysiological Biomarkers in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease and Dystonia: Advancing Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation”.
This grant is primarily aimed at young associates and residents specializing in neurosurgery, in an effort to promote innovation and advancement in this medical specialty.
Hospital Sant Pau, recognized as a leading institution in functional neurosurgery pathology, has positioned itself as one of the pioneers in this field. Its main focus is on deep brain stimulation in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease, especially those who do not respond adequately to pharmacological treatments or who experience undesirable side effects.
This research project aims to use the detection of brain electrical waves (local field potentials) and analyze their relationship with the optimal placement of electrodes and the improvement of symptoms in the medium and long term.
The research team, led by Dr. Juan Aibar and Dr. Rodrigo Rodríguez, will involve not only neurosurgeons but also neurologists and other professionals specializing in movement disorders. This multidisciplinary collaboration will allow for a comprehensive and enriching approach to better understand the underlying neurological mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease and dystonias, as well as to improve the deep brain stimulation techniques used in the treatment of these diseases.
