The Mannheim Center for Neuromodulation and Neuroprosthetics (MCNN), a joint initiative of the University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM) and the Central Institute for Mental Health (CIMH), has received a grant of approximately 2.85 million euros from the Dr. Rolf M. Schwiete Foundation. This funding will enable the acquisition of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) technology, one of the most advanced non-invasive methods for treating chronic pain.
The project was initiated and secured under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Thomas Kinfe in close cooperation with Prof. Dr. Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Director of the CIMH.
Funding for modern pain management
The technology is currently available at only a few locations in Germany. When combined with magnetic resonance imaging, it enables MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery, in which tissue can be precisely treated using high-intensity ultrasound waves. In the future, the procedure could also be used to treat other neurological and psychiatric conditions.
Close cooperation between UMM and CIMH
The MCNN was founded in 2025 and brings together expertise in neuromodulation, neuroprosthetics, and neurotechnology. In addition to the UMM and the CIMH, the BG Klinik Ludwigshafen is also a partner.
The research and work areas include, among others, “Chronic Pain and Neuromodulation,” “Translational Neuromodulation,” “Neuro-AI and Brain-Computer Interfaces,” and “Physics and Cognition.” The goal is to closely integrate clinical application, technological development, and basic research.
Innovative Approaches to Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders
Neuromodulation is a subfield of functional neurosurgery in which neurological functions in the brain or spinal cord are specifically modulated using electrical stimulation. Procedures such as deep brain stimulation are already used to treat conditions including Parkinson’s disease and chronic pain disorders.
In addition, new technologies are opening up new possibilities for the treatment of other neurological and psychiatric disorders, as well as functional impairments of speech or motor function.
More about the MCNN: https://www.neurochirurgie3.de/de/sektionen/neuromodulation-und-neuroprothetik/