International Neuromodulation Society Grants, Awards, Honors & Competitions

• INS Innovative Research Grant Program
• Chapter formation grants
• See abstract competition results
• Global neuromodulation activities and events

Chapter Formation Grants

In support of membership growth and the development of new regional chapters, the INS is pleased to announce its Chapter Foundation Grant. Grants will be awarded pending a review of the organizers’ mission and with the understanding that the following terms must be fulfilled by the recipient(s):

1. Each recipient of the subsidy must already be a member of the INS, or become a member before applying for the grant and holding an organizational meeting.
2. Each recipient will not only retain his or her membership, but also work to create a viable Chapter within one year of the receipt of the grant, and remain in regular contact with the INS Executive Office to report his/her progress. Those who are unable to form a chapter within this timeframe will be expected to recruit a significant number of members from their region to join the INS, and to continue their efforts to successfully establish a chapter.

If you are interested in forming a new chapter and applying for the grant, you are encouraged to notify the INS Executive Office and provide the following details:

1. Name and complete contact details
2. Names and contact details of collaborators
3. Country or region in which the chapter will be formed
4. Mission Statement
5. Estimated number of members
6. Time frame for forming the chapter

The criteria for forming a National Chapter are to:

1. recruit at least 20 paid members
2. write bylaws in accordance with the INS's bylaws
3. welcome members of all disciplines
4. organize a scientific meeting annual
   (either independently or with another Chapter / Chapters of the INS)
5. establish the chapter as a nonprofit organization in its country of origin
6. establish a financially independent entity
7. maintain a website (preferably as part of the INS's global website)
8. report regularly to the Executive Office of the INS

Abstract Competition

Starting with an inaugural competition at its 12th World Congress in 2015 in Montreal, the INS has recognized the five top INS congress research abstracts for their quality, originality and ingenuity in basic or clinical science:

• 2015 INS 12th World Congress Abstract Competition results
• 2017 INS 13th World Congress Abstract Competition results
• 2019 INS 14th World Congress Abstract Competition results

Historical

New Investigator Competition Results, 2009 - 2010

Neuromodulation Global Activities and Events

The International Neuromodulation Society wishes to inform the community about relevant endeavors, including:

• WIKISTIM, a collaborative registry of published neuromodulation data
• International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Global Year Against Pain
• Pain Alliance Europe - Member of the European Parliament Interest Group on Brain, Mind and Pain
• European Brain Council's Age of the Brain

WIKISTIM

WIKISTIM is being developed by the nonprofit Neuromodulation Foundation, Inc. (an independent organization from the INS), as a resource for the global neuromodulation community. The online wiki allows contributors to list and extract primary research data to enable tabular downloads and provides the capability of a forum discussion for knowledge-sharing. Overall, it is intended to extend the utility of published clinical research.

Adoption of this knowledge base should yield:

• Improved patient care
• Support for reimbursement efforts
• Facilitated regulatory submissions
• Improved quality of published reports
• Inspiration for research and innovation
• Increased communication

The abstracted data are categorized in data sheets to enable meta-analysis by users. The site has a customized search engine and links to PUBMED abstracts as well as to spinal cord stimulation practice parameters that were developed in 2007 by more than 20 experts and are accessible on the website of the Neuromodulation Foundation, www.neuromodfound.org. WIKISTIM also provides a forum for ongoing discussions of any length.

Launched in 2013, WIKISTIM (www.wikistim.org) welcomes submissions of data from published papers about neuromodulation and participation in shaping the resource through input and suggestions, as well as help extracting its hundreds of research papers that document the development of neuromodulation therapy. The Neuromodulation Foundation also accepts charitable donations to continue this work.

Pain Alliance Europe - Member of the European Parliament Interest Group on Brain, Mind and Pain

A Register of Support opened Jan. 13 - 14, 2015 at a meeting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and more than 40 Members of the European Parliament signed. According to the registered charity Pain Alliance Europe, the Interest Group on Brain, Mind and Pain "aims to encourage research into and access to innovative treatments, promote prevention and self-management approaches, decrease stigma and work together to improve quality of life for people living with these disabling conditions."

Supporters called for policymakers to:

• Support patient-led campaigns to educate, eradicate stigma and raise awareness of neurological and chronic pain disorders
• Improve regulation to better enable research to develop innovative options in the prevention and treatment of these disorders
• Strengthen patient involvement in this research, and in policy-setting and decision-making
• Implement relevant European social legislation to ensure appropriate support for people living with neurological and chronic pain disorders

Pain Alliance Europe launched and coordinated the Interest Group in conjunction with the European Federation of Neurological Associations.

European Brain Council's Age of the Brain

As part of its public education campaign, the International Neuromodulation Society (INS) joined more than 200 organizations to support the European Brain Council's (EBC) proposal to recognize 2014 as The European Year of the Brain (EYOB).

European Year of the Brain aimed to "celebrate the wonder of the brain and create initiatives which will change behaviours and lead to measurable improvements in health," and has the potential to do the following:

• Increase the profile of all brain diseases in every member state
• Draw attention to the costs and impact of brain diseases now and into the future
• Increase funding for brain research through the framework programmes and in the member
       states
• Increase efforts to educate, inform and advise all those living with brain diseases in order to
       improve their quality of life
• Recognise the increasingly important role of those who care for a person living with a brain
       disorder
• Promote normal brain function and development and address barriers to these.
• Draw attention to health inequalities in brain diseases
• Develop action plans at local, national, regional and European level to address specific areas
       related to brain diseases
• Influence policy decisions over the next 5-10 years
• Address controversial and difficult areas
• Stimulate open debate and dialogue on brain diseases
• Show the value of partnership across all of society