QIMR Berghofer's lead researcher Associate Professor Luca Cocchi said he wanted to help clinicians and patients make informed decisions about the procedure, which is time-intensive and costly.
"By improving our ability to accurately screen people who will respond to this therapy, we can treat more people effectively. This approach will help us avoid unnecessary treatment for others, shorten waiting lists and provide better access to those in need," he said.
The project will develop advanced AI-enabled software and tools to detect patterns of brain activity that can predict if a patient is a good candidate for TMS therapy. This information can directly inform treatment decisions.
"The goal is to give clinicians a very simple tool to quickly and easily measure brain activity using a method called electroencephalography. Using that brain signal, they would be able to determine the likelihood of a person positively responding to TMS."
Associate Professor Luca Cocchi
Patients receiving treatment at the Queensland Neurostimulation Centre can voluntarily contribute data to the project. QIMR Berghofer is collaborating with leading technology companies ANT Neuro Australia Pty Ltd and Resonait Medical Technologies (RMT) to collect and analyse this data.
ANT Neuro will provide the equipment that records patients' patterns of brain activity, allowing for precise and personalised brain stimulation for those receiving TMS.
"This project will combine novel analysis and improve usability to deliver complete clinic-ready solutions, raising the bar for mental health care standards in Australia and beyond," ANT Neuro CEO Caley Sullivan said.
RMT's customised AI frameworks will then analyse the complex patterns in patients' brain activity to calculate their likely response to TMS therapy.
"Our algorithms learn the subtle changes in brain activation that differentiate subtypes of people with major depression. Those algorithms will be refined and tested to reliably screen candidates for TMS therapy and to provide treatment recommendations to psychiatrists," RMT founder Dr Cameron Higgins said.
The project has been made possible by a grant from the Queensland Government's Industry Research Projects Program.
Queensland Minister for Science and Innovation, Leanne Linard, said the Queensland Government was proud to back Queensland researchers and innovators.
"Our Government is committed to supporting Queensland-based researchers to develop innovative solutions to some of the biggest challenges being faced by our community through funding initiatives such as the Advance Queensland Industry Research Projects grants program.
"We are facing rising rates of mental health issues in Queensland.
"This project by QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, which received an Industry Research Project grant, will play an important role in enhancing care for those suffering major depression."r
