Research is integral in our quest to deliver evidence-based, personalised and cost-effective care to our patients.
Together with our extensive network of local and international collaborators, we participate actively in clinical research geared towards improving patient care, enabling the translation of preclinical and technological advances to the bedside.
Peripheral nerve disorders
Apart from nerve conduction and autonomic studies, our division has assessed the roles of novel techniques involving high-resolution ultrasonography to guide medical and surgical treatment of metabolic neuropathies, nerve entrapments and inflammatory nerve disease. There is a close collaboration with SINAPSE (Singapore Institute for Neurotechnology) with opportunities to engage in collaborative research
www.sinapseinstitute.org
StrokeStroke is an important cerebrovascular disease that is rising both in incidence and prevalence globally.
The focus of our research is to optimise the use of acute reperfusion therapies by complementing radiologic and sonographic methods to achieve recanalisation of the occluded artery and improve clinical outcomes.
As intracranial stenosis is prevalent in our community, we have undertaken several initiatives to examine the contribution of intracranial stenosis with respect to cerebrovascular reserves, electrographic changes and stroke recurrence.
Through the use of telemedicine, we have also embarked on several initiatives to determine the incidence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and blood pressure control in stroke patients. We have also engaged academic and industry partners to assess the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation, brain-computer interface and botulinum injections to facilitate rehabilitation in our patients.
Our objectives in the laboratory are to better understand the reasons why strokes occur, why some patients are resistant to “standard treatment” and why complications such as cerebral haemorrhage occur. Through our collaborations with engineers and scientists in academia and industry, we are working to identify high-risk patients by developing biomarker-based and novel treatment strategies.
Autoimmune Neurologic Disorders
Neural-mediated autoantibodies are increasingly recognised to being involved in the pathogenesis of neurologic presentations that spans across different facets of the nervous system. Our division is investigating immunological biomarkers that can aid in the recognition of autoimmune neurologic disorders and to tailor individualised therapies to treat these disorders.
Headache DisordersWe are committed to advancing the field of headache neurology within Singapore and beyond. Our research activities include clinical trials, epidemiological studies and education research.
Rehabilitation Medicine
- Rehabilitation robotics: Clinical studies in collaboration with the NUS Faculty of Engineering include the development and use of soft robotics with novel applications in rehabilitation, and the development of robotic exoskeleton with novel control algorithms.
- Enhancement of neuroplasticity using non-invasive brain stimulation: Clinical studies to define the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance recovery in stroke and other acquired brain injury.
- Use of technology-enhanced neuro-feedback in neuro-rehabilitation: Clinical studies in collaboration with engineers focus on the use of brain-computer interface-assisted motor imagery and EEG and EMG biofeedback for the enhancement of performance at rehabilitation.
- Neurophysiological mechanisms of stroke recovery: Functional imaging with MRI (including tractography) and transcranial magnetic stimulation are used to elucidate changes within the neuronal networks with natural stroke recovery and with various interventions, to better stratify patients and apply appropriate neuromodulatory interventions.