Biophysically guided modeling to improve transcranial magnetic stimulation
Official title: CRCNS Research Proposal: Collaborative Research: US-German Collaboration toward a biophysically principled network model of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11310746 · Data updated 2026-11-12
They are building detailed computer and brain-cell models to help make TMS work better for people with neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $382,325 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB034143-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11310746 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
In future clinical work, adults with conditions commonly treated by TMS—such as treatment-resistant depression or other disorders involving altered cortical excitability—would be the most relevant candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People with medical problems unrelated to brain stimulation or those seeking immediate therapy should not expect direct benefit from this modeling project.
What this research studies
Researchers will create multiscale computer models that combine simulations of the magnetic and electric fields produced by TMS with detailed neuron models and molecular simulations of intracellular calcium. The project links field-level engineering simulations with single-cell and network-level biology to predict how different stimulation patterns change brain circuit excitability. A US–German collaboration will use these models to suggest stimulation protocols that might produce more reliable clinical responses. This work is primarily lab and computational, intended to guide future clinical testing rather than provide direct treatment right now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to more precise TMS settings and protocols that improve symptom relief for people with depression and other brain disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous electric-field and neuron modeling studies have shown promise in explaining TMS effects, but combining these with molecular-scale calcium simulations to design protocols is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Opitz, Alexander — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Opitz, Alexander
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.