Dr Sam Hughes

Lecturer in Human Neuroscience

Head of the Pain Neuroplasticity and Modulation Lab at the Brain Research and Imaging Centre (BRIC)

Qualifications

• BSc Pharmacology (1st class): University College London
  
• MRC funded 4 year PhD Studentship in Systems Neuroscience: University of Bristol

Professional membership

Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Roles on external bodies

Editorial board member for Frontiers in Pain Research (neuropathic pain section)

Teaching interests

I teach on the following undergraduate modules:

Research interests

My research is focused on understanding endogenous analgesic processes in human surrogate pain models and chronic pain patients. I use psychophysical approaches (e.g. quantitative sensory testing and conditioned pain modulation), electrocutaneous stimulation, neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques (e.g. virtual reality, tDCS, temporal interference) to investigate the sensitisation and modulation of central nociceptive activity. 

For more information see the Pain Neuroplasticity and Modulation Lab page at BRIC.

Collaborators:

• Dr Matt Howard (Kings College London)
• Dr Kirsty Bannister (Kings College London)
• Dr Paul Strutton (Imperial College London)
• Dr Ines Violante (University of Surrey)
• Dr Nir Grossman (Imperial College London)
• Prof Thomas Graven-Nielsen (Aalborg University, Denmark)
• Dr Robert Drake (University of Bristol)

Grants & contracts

The Pain Relief Foundation (2018) – co-investigator  

The effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on chronic pain and central sensitisation in patients with radicular low-back pain (sciatica): a randomised, sham-controlled proof-of-principle study (£21,207)

Kings Prize (Anthony Mellows) Fellowship/Wellcome Trust (2019) – lead investigator

Top-down influences of neuromodulation on endogenous analgesia (£148,601)