Dr. med. Jan Rosner

Projects:

Multimodal Phenotyping of Central Neuropathic Pain

The assessment of the pain phenotype is widely regarded as paramount to investigate underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. To this end, we perform state-of-the-art clinical protocols including pain drawings combined with bedside sensory testing in order to characterize the pain phenotype across distinct central neuropathic pain conditions. Specifically, we are developing novel outcomes for clinical trials.

Acute Neuropathic Pain

Acute neuropathic pain poses a significant diagnostic challenge, especially in the case of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) as nociceptive and neuropathic pain are often concurrently present. Consequently, there is a lack of clinical information regarding the phenotype of neuropathic pain present within the early stages of SCI. As part of this project, we aim to optimize standardized testing protocols to better capture and track acute neuropathic after SCI.

Clinical and Electrophysiological Outcomes in Spinal Disorders

Contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs), cold evoked potentials (CEPs), pinprick evoked potentials (PEPs), dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), and quantitative sensory profiles are obtained in individuals with spinal cord lesions. The electrophysiological findings are related to clinical signs and symptoms (of neuropathic pain) and tract-specific neuroimaging metrics. This project is conducted in close collaboration with the Spinal Cord Injury Center at the University of Zurich. Moreover, we focus on the comprehensive characterization and outcome prediction in acute spinal cord ischemia syndrome through the implementation of spinal cord injury related outcome measures in addition to conventional stroke scores.

Research fields:

• Diagnosis and pathophysiology of central neuropathic pain
• Spinal neurology
• Novel pain-related outcomes for clinical trials

Collaborations:

• Dr. med. Andreas Nowacki; Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital Bern; andreas.nowacki@insel.ch
• PD Dr. med. Robert Hoepner; Neuroimmunological Outpatient Clinic, Department of Neurology, Inselspital Bern; robert.hoepner@insel.ch
• Dr. med. Sebastian Bigdon; Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Inselspital Bern; sebastian.bigdon@insel.ch
• Dr. Michèle Hubli, PhD; Spinal Cord Injury Center, University of Zurich; michele.hubli@balgrist.ch
• Ass.-Prof. John Kramer, PhD; Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; john.kramer@ubc.ca
• PD Dr. Walter Magerl, PhD; Department of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University; walter.magerl@medma.uni-heidelberg.de
• PD Dr. Michèle Hubli, PhD; University of Zurich, Spinal Cord Injury Center, Research, Balgrist University Hospital; michele.hubli@balgrist.ch