Preconference Workshops Schedule




Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): Advanced Theory and Hands-on Workshop
Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Directors: Adam J Woods, PhD, Helena Knotkova, PhD, Marom Bikson, PhD

Target Audience: This course is designed for clinicians and researchers in disciplines related to neurostimulation (such as medicine, nursing, neuroscience, bioengineering), and personnel involved in tDCS research and treatment.

Scope

This intensive one-day international workshop is dedicated to the design and implementation of tDCS in clinical and research settings. It provides an update on 2018 state-of-the-art comprehensive theoretical background and methodology, with presentations and discussions on the development of professional standards for safety, validity and reproducibility of functional outcomes in tDCS applications, as well as practical experience necessary to acquire the knowledge and skills for tDCS applications. This tDCS Advanced Theory and Hands-on Workshop distinguishes itself from other tDCS educational initiatives by offering extensive practical experience and an in-depth learning approach, including interactive lectures, facilitated discussion, demonstrations, hands-on step-by-step exercises. The Workshop utilizes versatile educational elements from the basic to expert level and covers the complex framework from neurophysiological research to clinical applications. It is expected that even individuals highly experienced in tDCS will benefit from the advanced and comprehensive training in the state-of-the-art technique. The Workshop promotes expertise in the field of noninvasive brain stimulation and focuses on building competencies in the following areas: Principles and mechanisms of tDCS, electrode preparation and montages, stimulation parameters, protocols and targeted outcomes, safety, tDCS current modeling and dose determination, good practices in tDCS delivery, tDCS clinical and research trial design and implementation, with specific methodologic considerations for HD-tDCS and conventional tDCS in institutional and home-based settings. Education and training will be provided by a seasoned highly experienced team. Previous practical experience with tDCS not required.

7:30 - 8:00 AM Registration Opens (Breakfast Served)
8:00 - 8:30 AM Introductory remarks
08:30 - 10:30 AM tDCS course Unit I: Theory and design
Adam J Woods PhD, Helena Knotkova PhD, Marom Bikson PhD
Module 1: tDCS – Principles and mechanisms
Module 2: Targeted outcomes
10:30 - 10:45 AM Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:00 PM tDCS course Unit I: Theory and design
Adam J Woods PhD, Helena Knotkova PhD, Marom Bikson PhD
Module 3: Stimulation parameters and protocols
Module 4: Electrodes/montages
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 PM tDCS course Unit I: Theory and design
Adam J Woods PhD, Marom Bikson PhD Module 5: Safety
2:00 - 4:00 PM tDCS course Unit II: Clinical implementation & practical exercises
Adam J Woods PhD, Helena Knotkova PhD, Marom Bikson PhD
Station 1: Electrode Measurement Procedures
Station 2: Electrode Preparation and Placement
Station 3: Conventional and HD-tDCS Devices
Station 4: tDCS Practical Knowledge Exercises
4:00 - 4:30 PM tDCS course Unit III: Professional standards and recap
Helena Knotkova PhD
4:30 - 5:00 PM Closing remarks, workshop survey & certification of completion

Registration
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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in Neuroscience and Clinical Practice: Hands-on Workshop
Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 | 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Directors: Joan Camprodon, MD, PhD, Nolan Williams, MD, Colleen Hanlon, PhD, Ricci Hannah, PhD

Target Audience: This course is designed for clinicians and researchers, and other personnel involved in TMS research and treatment, who are interested in a general introduction or primer to TMS theory and practice.


Scope

This workshop provides an overview of the principles and state-of-the-art applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS is FDA-cleared for the treatment of major depression, migraine, and pre-surgical cortical mapping, and is widely used in basic and translational neuroscience research. Leading TMS experts including from Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School will lecture on topics including device principles and types; comparison of features of the various FDA approved devices; description of the parameter space and the mechanisms of action; the neuroscience of TMS; research applications including multimodal combinations with MRI and EEG; clinical applications; principles of stimulus dosing; risks and contraindications; safety screening; regulations; and practical discussion on device use, experimental design and clinical management. There will be plenty of opportunities for formal and informal discussion with course faculty. The lectures will be followed by a hands-on training session to learn key TMS procedures such as motor threshold determination and coil targeting using neuronavigation. The hands-on session will comprise learning stations with different TMS devices and practical instruction with high instructor-to-participant number ratio. The workshop will be capped by an hour long discussion, questions, and answers session that will provide opportunity for addressing additional topics of interest to the participants.

7:30 - 8:00 AM Registration Opens (Breakfast Served)
8:00 - 8:05 AM TMS Basic Principles, Devices & Dose
8:05 - 9:00 AM TMS parameters and mechanism of action
9:00 - 10:00 AM Research Applications
10:00 - 10:30 AM Clinical Applications: Diagnostic
10:30 - 11:00 AM Clinical Applications: Therapeutic
11:00 - 11:30 AM TMS Tolerability & Safety Management, Regulations, Policies and Practical Considerations
11:30 - 12:00 PM Demos & practice: Motor threshold determination, diagnostic protocols, coil placement with and without neuronavigation

Registration
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Deep Brain Stimulation and Spinal Cord Stimulation Engineering Principles for Clinicians
Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 | 1:00 - 4:30 PM
Directors: Marom Bikson PhD, Scott Lempka PhD

Target Audience: This course is designed for clinicians and scientists interested in rigorous introduction to the engineering principles behind DBS and SCS. A technical background is not required.


Scope

This course will present engineering principles relevant to deep brain stimulation (DBS) and spinal cord stimulation (SCS). The target audience is clinicians that currently utilize or are interested in incorporating DBS and/or SCS technologies into their clinical practice. The field of neuromodulation is rapidly evolving with a wide range of technologies now clinically available. It is not always clear how different designs or waveform parameters affect the neural response and corresponding efficacy of the stimulation. Therefore, the goal of this course is to provide clinicians with an overview of the engineering principles and biophysics relevant to DBS and SCS. This course will also present the current understanding of the physiological effects and mechanisms of action of standard and emerging forms of DBS and SCS. At the end of the course, attendees will have a better understanding of the physiological and technical factors that determine the neural response to DBS and SCS. The ultimate goal of this course is to provide attendees with knowledge that will aid in their clinical implementation of DBS and SCS technologies.

1:00 - 1:20 PM Understanding how electrical stimulation affects neurons - Part I - membrane polarization
1:20 - 2:00 PM Understanding how electrical stimulation affects neurons - Part II - role of electrode position and waveform parameters
2:00 - 2:30 PM How current flow models inform lead placement and parameter selection
2:30 - 3:00 PM What are electrodes?
3:00 - 3:20 PM How tissue safety constrains what waveforms can be applied
3:20 - 3:40 PM Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) – relevant engineering principles
3:40 - 4:00 PM SCS - new waveforms and mechanisms of action
4:00 - 4:30 PM Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) - Engineering principles
4:30 - 5:00 PM DBS - new waveforms and mechanisms of action

Registration
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