09 Jul Coma Science Group at the University Hospital of Liege signs collaboration agreement with TRAINM
Antwerp, 3 July 2021 – TRAINM signed a collaboration agreement with the Coma Science Group at the University Hospital of Liege. This collaboration will focus on scientific research regarding the functional recovery of patients suffering from Disorders of Consciousness (DOC). Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys, Head of Coma Science Group, joins TRAINM as Medical Advisor.
TRAINM is a leading (post) rehabilitation clinic based in Antwerp treating children and adults with a neurological disorder, e.g. cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury (ABI), stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury and disorders of consciousness (DOC). The clinic’s personalized, intensive treatment programs combine various scientific disciplines and make use of innovative technologies such as robotics, virtual reality, neurogaming, artificial intelligence and non-invasive neuromodulation. “We strongly believe in the synergies between technology, human intervention and a stimulating environment to develop data-driven treatment programs tailored to each patient’s specific needs and progress,” says Edward Schiettecatte, CEO.
Neuroplasticity
TRAINM has 15 specialized medical staff (physiotherapists, neurologists, neuropsychologists and speech therapists) and distinguishes itself from traditional rehabilitation clinics by its extensive scientific basis, intensive and personalized data- driven treatment programs and the use of modern technology to achieve maximum functional improvements through the enhancement of the neuroplasticity of the brain. TRAINM to date has treated more than 1,000 neurological patients coming from the Benelux and other countries (e.g. France, UK, Greece, Singapore, Egypt, Lebanon).
Disorders of consciousness
Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys is a board-certified neurologist leading the Coma Science Group at the University Hospital of Liege. Prof. Dr. Laureys is also Clinical Professor and Research Director at the Belgian National Fund of Scientific Research (FNRS). Prof. Dr. Laureys is
Chair of the European Neurological Society Subcommittee on Coma and Disorders of Consciousness.
Today, Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys is joining TRAINM as Medical Advisor. “I am very happy to join TRAINM and help them develop and further refine personalized treatment programs for patients suffering from disorders of consciousness” says Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys.
“Since the beginning of the year, we have 7 patients suffering from disorders of consciousness following therapies at TRAINM” says Edward Schiettecatte, CEO.
Tars Peeters, who is suffering from locked-in syndrome, has been coming to TRAINM since 2017. His mother, Nelleke Koeners, says that “Since Tars started his rehabilitation at TRAINM, he has not been hospitalized, his hand-arm function has improved and he can now independently drive his electric wheelchair. We have to embrace the innovation that TRAINM brings to the field of neuro rehabilitation.”
Ellen Meijer traveled from the Netherlands for an intensive bootcamp for her daughter Jannet, who is suffering from minimal consciousness. Ellen confirms that “Jannet has significantly improved and increased her level of consciousness at TRAINM. Also, she is more alert and more focused when doing exercises and is now capable of keeping her head up independently. Her trunk is showing signs of activation and she can now sit for one minute independently.”
Anna Czyzewska is suffering from minimal consciousness and traveled from Poland with her partner Andy Padmanabhan to start an intensive neuro rehabilitation program at TRAINM. Andy says that “Anna is starting to demonstrate significantly increased cognition, isolated muscle control and enjoys a better quality of life. All of these possibilities were ruled out by medical professionals previously. To us, TRAINM represents the gold standard of neuro rehabilitation.”
“The combination of personalized and intensive treatment programs and the use of innovative technologies can lead to more functional recovery and an increased state of consciousness for these types of patients” adds Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys.
Coma Science Group, University Hospital of Liege
The Coma Science Group at the University Hospital of Liege was founded by Prof. Dr. Laureys and assesses the recovery of neurological disability and neuronal plasticity in altered states of consciousness confronting clinical expertise and bedside behavioral evaluation with electrophysiology and neuroimaging techniques.
TRAINM’s collaboration with the Coma Science Group will focus on joint research activities, the exchange of students and the common organization of conferences and seminars.
“The collaboration with TRAINM will allow Coma Science Group to enhance its research activities and develop new treatment protocols for patients suffering from disorders of consciousness” explains Aurore Thibaut, PhD, Co-Director, Coma Science Group.
About Prof. Dr. Steven Laureys
Steven Laureys, MD, PhD, FEAN is internationally recognized for his clinical and scientific studies of alterations of consciousness and neural plasticity. He explores the human mind in health and disease using the latest brain imaging technologies and wearables assessing traumatic brain injury, concussion, coma and related states such as locked-in syndrome, unresponsive wakefulness and minimally consciousness states. Prof Dr Laureys is Research Director at the Belgian Fund of Scientific Research and founding director of the Coma Science Group and GIGA Consciousness Research Unit at the University of Liège. He also directs the Brain Clinic at Liege University Hospital in Belgium, co-directs the Hangzhou Consciousness Institute in China and is a professor at the CERVO Brain Research Centre at Laval University in Canada. He has authored over 500 peer-reviewed scientific papers and has published ten scientific books including The Neurology of Consciousness. Dr Laureys is a fellow of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine and recipient of numerous prestigious international awards (i.e. European Academy of Neurology, Max Planck Institute, Association of the Scientific Study of Consciousness, and Society of Cognitive Neuroscience). In 2018 he was appointed Commander in the Order of Leopold.
About Coma Science Group, University Hospital of Liege
The Coma Science Group, founded by Prof. Laureys and currently directed by Drs. Olivia Gosseries and Aurore Thibaut is an international, multidisciplinary team, aiming to improve our understanding of post-comatose patients with acquired brain injury and disorders of consciousness. This includes concussion and disorders of consciousness (i.e., coma, “vegetative” state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and minimally conscious state) and locked-in syndrome. The Coma Science Group includes about 40 clinician scientists, all specialized in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic interventions for patients with acquired brain injury after trauma, anoxia, stroke or hemorrhage.
About TRAINM
TRAINM is a leading outpatient neuro (post) rehabilitation clinic based in Antwerp, Belgium, treating children and adults with a neurological disorder, e.g. cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injury and disorders of consciousness. The clinic’s personalized, intensive treatment programs combine various scientific disciplines and use innovative technologies such as robotics, virtual reality, neurogaming, artificial intelligence and non-invasive neuromodulation.
Contact
– Edward Schiettecatte, TRAINM, info@trainm.com, +32.3.283.02.23
– Steven Laureys, MD, PhD, Coma Science Group, steven.laureys@uliege.be,
+32.477.97.24.52
– Aurore Thibaut, PhD, Coma Science Group, athibaut@uliege.be, +32. 4.366.41.58
