28/01/2008

A new research centre has recently been opened in Athens, the Hellenic Centre of Neurosurgical Research "Professor Petros S. Kokkalis". The Centre will operate from the Evaggelismos Hospital and aims to support the collaboration between the neuroscientific and biotechnology communities in Greece, as well as researching modern microprocessing and nanotechnology implant systems in the field of neuroengineering. The establishment and operation of the Centre was made possible by the support of three organisations: the University of Athens; Evaggelismos Hospital; and the Kokkalis Foundation. The network and telephone services of the Centre have recently been significantly upgraded with sponsorship from the telecommunications provider Hellas On Line (HOL).

The Centre's area of activity focuses on the following sectors:

The first sector deals with research into modern apparatus and microprocessor implants, which are part of the field of neuroengineering. These systems are used to treat chronic disorders of the brain and the spinal cord, such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, dystonia, muscular hypertonicity, chronic pain and disabilities caused by strokes and traumatic injuries to the brain and the spinal cord.

The second sector relates to the development of neuro-informatics and covers three activities: a) patients' electronic medical records; b) databases related to the neurological diseases in Greece; and c) advanced software which uses the information from these databases to improve the diagnosis of neurological diseases and therapeutic ways of combating them.

The third sector focuses on analysing biomagnetic signals captured with advanced electronic and medical imaging equipment. It aims to create innovative electronic methods of evaluating the effects of neurological disorders on memory and other higher functions of the brain.

Neurosurgery is a surgical specialty which intervenes to combat disorders of the neural system. This includes surgical treatment of disorders of the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves. Neurosurgery is one of the fastest growing medical specialties. This has become possible due to our increased understanding of how the nervous system works, and due to the progress made in technology relating to both the quality of surgical equipment and the rapid growth and development of computers. New imaging techniques have also played a primary role in this development.

Source: Hellenic Centre of Neurosurgical Research "Professor Petros S. Kokkalis"