Speaker Robert M Richardson, MD, PhDMassachusetts General HospitalNeurosurgeryExecutive Board of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Dr. Richardson directs the Functional Neurosurgery division at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where his practice includes comprehensive pediatric and adult epilepsy surgery, deep brain stimulation for movement disorders and OCD, and experimental gene and cell therapy. He is the Charles Pappas Professor of Neurosciences at Harvard Medical School and a Visiting Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT. /wp-content/uploads/videos/wssfn250707.mp4 Moderated by Dr. Cristina TorresCo-director, Movement Disorder Surgery UnitHospital Universitario de La Princesa,Madrid, Spain Dr Nico EnslinConsultant neurosurgeonRed Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and ConstantiabergUniversity of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Author: Christophe SCHWOB
WSSFN Newsletter – Summer 2025
Letter from the President Letter from the Editor Letter from XX World Congress of Stereotactic and Functional NeurosurgeryWSSFN 2024 New chair of the Psychiatric Surgery Task Force Stereotactic Academy Digest Hot Topics in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery SAVE THE DATE: WSSFN 2025 Interim Meeting in Buenos Aires WSSFN Webinars – Thalamic responsive neurostimulation and evolution in SEEG: 07 July 2025 Congress announcements Obituaries †: Tipu Zahed Aziz (1956-2024) Download the latest newsletter
Brain-controlled spinal cord stimulation to restore voluntary movements after spinal cord injury
Speaker Prof. Henri LorachAssistant Professor University of Lausanne Prof. Henri Lorach is Assistant Professor in the University of Lausanne within the Defitech Center for Interventional Neurotherapies (.NeuroRestore) – a research, innovation and treatment center that develops and applies bioengineering strategies involving neurosurgical interventions to restore neurological functions. His research focusses on understanding 1) how the electrical activity of the brain encodes behavior and intentions and 2) how to use this knowledge to build real-time Brain Computer Interfaces to restore function after neurological disorders. In particular, he is leading clinical trials implementing invasive electrocorticography recordings at the level of the sensory motor cortex in patients with spinal cord injury to infer their intentions to perform specific movements and restore those movements through neuroprosthetic technologies. Prof. Lorach graduated from Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and completed his PhD at the vision institute working on the encoding of visual information in the retina. He completed postdoctoral training at Stanford University to develop retinal implants that stimulate electrically the retina and restore visual perception to the blind. /wp-content/uploads/videos/wssfn13052025.mp4 Moderated by Dr. Cristina TorresCo-director, Movement Disorder Surgery UnitHospital Universitario de La Princesa,Madrid, Spain Dr Nico EnslinConsultant neurosurgeonRed Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and ConstantiabergUniversity of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Functional Neurosurgery: Understanding Its Effects on Cognition in Psychiatric Disorders
Speakers Bryan A Strange, MRCP, MBBS, PhD, BSc(Hons)Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain He completed the M.B.-Ph.D. programme at University College London (UK) in 2004. His Ph.D., conducted at the Functional Imaging Laboratory, Institute of Neurology, London, under the supervision of Ray Dolan and Karl Friston, argued for a functional dissociation between anterior and posterior hippocampus in humans. Subsequently, alongside clinical work in general medicine and neurology, he continued to study memory in humans, with particular focus on the effects of emotion on memory formation, He started his own laboratory in 2011, the Laboratory for Clinical Neuroscience, CTB-UPM, Madrid, Spain. His laboratory employs a multi-modal approach combining functional brain imaging techniques with patient lesion data, pharmacology, genetics, human intracranial recordings and deep brain stimulation to study human memory. In 2014 he published a new model of hippocampal function, alongside the winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine from the same year. In 2018 he was awarded a European Research Council Consolidator grant to characterise human subcortico-cortical neuronal circuit dynamics associated with enhanced episodic memory for salient stimuli. In 2021, he led a successful application for an infrastructure grant from the Spanish science ministry to fund the acquisition of an optically-pumped magnetoencephalography system. He currently leads the UPM Neurotechnology initiative and is Scientific Director of the Spanish node of EBRAINS. > Cognitive effects of deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens in psychiatric patients Marcos Ríos-LagoUniversity Professor, Department of Basic Psychology II, UNED, MadridPh.D. in Psychology (Complutense University of Madrid) Master’s Degree in Cognitive Neuropsychology (Complutense University of Madrid) He combines his teaching responsibilities at UNED with clinical practice at several hospitals in Madrid. Currently, he works in the development department of the technology company NeuronUP. His research focuses on attention, executive functions, and processing speed. He is also involved in research projects related to magnetic resonance imaging (both structural and functional) at Hospital Ruber International in Madrid, as well as in the Functional Neurosurgery Service at the same institution. He is the author of various articles, books, and clinical guidelines in the fields of neuropsychology, neuroimaging, brain injuries, and cognitive processes. > Neuropsychological outcomes following funcional neurosurgery in refractory OCD patients /wp-content/uploads/videos/wssfn25032025.mp4 Moderated by Dr. Cristina TorresCo-director, Movement Disorder Surgery UnitHospital Universitario de La Princesa,Madrid, Spain Dr Nico EnslinConsultant neurosurgeonRed Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and ConstantiabergUniversity of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
New chair of the Psychiatric Surgery Task Force
Dear Friends, In 2011, the question of the future of Neurosurgery for Psychiatric Disorders was raised by the WSSFN. A task force was created as a platform for key individuals in Psychiatric Surgery from different continents worldwide, with the aim of exchanging ideas and initiating actions. Bart Nuttin was selected to lead this task force, and he ensured that the correct direction for Neurosurgery in psychiatric disorders was maintained, always keeping the interests of the patient and society in mind. Over the past 14 years, he and the group have achieved a colossal amount of high-quality work, overcoming the numerous obstacles associated with this very special field of Functional Neurosurgery. We are all deeply grateful to Bart for this remarkable accomplishment. It is now time for Bart to hand over the leadership to a new team. After democratic discussions, the WSSFN board has elected Volker Coenen and Matilda Naesström as the new chairs of the Psychiatric Neurosurgery Task Force. Both have been deeply involved in the work of the task force and are recognized worldwide as experts in this domain. One of our major challenges is to increase the global interest of the psychiatric community in surgery, and we love the idea of having a psychiatrist as co-chair alongside Volker. I am confident that they are the right people at the right time. Congratulations to both of you! There is still much work to be done! Jean RegisWSSFN President On 10 February 2025, the Board of Officers of the WSSFN appointed a new chair for the Psychiatric Surgery Task Force of the WSSFN. Volker Coenen from Freiburg (Germany) was chosen to succeed Bart Nuttin from Leuven (Belgium) in this position. After concluding his professional career, Dr. Nuttin had requested to step down from his role as chair. As a new development, a psychiatric co-chair has been appointed to foster closer collaboration between specialties and to promote the acceptance of neurosurgical treatment options within the psychiatric community. This newly created co-chair position was unanimously assigned to Matilda Naesström, a psychiatrist from Umeå (Sweden). The task force was originally founded under the name WSSFN Committee for Neurosurgery for Psychiatric Disorders following the WSSFN Shanghai Interim Meeting in 2011 and was officially announced during the Lisbon Meeting in 2012 under the leadership of Dr. Nuttin. The group had previously convened under Osvaldo Vilela Filho (Goiás, Brazil) since 2009. It was later renamed the Task Force for Neurosurgery for Psychiatric Disorders (now more succinctly referred to as the Psychiatric Surgery Task Force). Dr. Nuttin was appointed as its first chair, and from the outset, consistent psychiatric input has been a key feature. The task force has been actively engaged in advancing neurosurgical treatments for psychiatric conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depression, and others. Under Dr. Nuttin’s leadership, the task force has played a crucial role in the publication of influential guidelines and scientific papers 2-4. The Psychiatric Surgery Task Force is committed to the development of neurosurgical techniques—including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and lesion-based methods such as Focused Ultrasound and stereotactic radiosurgery—for psychiatric disorders that are resistant to conservative and best-practice medical treatments. Operating within a rigorous scientific and ethical framework, the task force meets quarterly (via web meetings or in person during ESSFN and WSSFN events). All WSSFN members interested in contributing to the development of neurosurgical approaches for psychiatric indications are encouraged to join. Dr. Nuttin’s landmark paper 1 on DBS of the anterior limb of the internal capsule for the treatment of OCD marked the beginning of the modern era of psychiatric surgery. His clinical focus has consistently remained on the advancement of Deep Brain Stimulation for OCD. The WSSFN extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Nuttin for his long-standing, thoughtful, and dedicated service as chair of the task force. Volker A. Coenen, MD (Freiburg, Germany) Incoming chair Matilda Naesström, MD, PhD (Umea, Sweden) Incoming Psychiatric co-chair Bart Nuttin, MD (Leuven, Belgium) Outgoing chair of the task force 2011-2025 References Nuttin, B., Cosyns, P., Demeulemeester, H., Gybels, J. & Meyerson, B. Electrical stimulation in anterior limbs of internal capsules in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Lancet 354, 1526–1 (1999). Nuttin, B. et al. Consensus on guidelines for stereotactic neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders. J. Neurol., Neurosurg. Psychiatry 85, 1003 (2014). Wu, H. et al. Deep brain stimulation for refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): emerging or established therapy? Mol Psychiatr 26, 60–65 (2021). Visser-Vandewalle, V. et al. Deep brain stimulation for obsessive–compulsive disorder: a crisis of access. Nat Med 28, 1529–1532 (2022).
Hot Topics in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
by Prof. Marwan Hariz [2005 Newsletter]
Letter from XXth World Congress of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 2024
Vanessa Milanese, MD, PhD Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery Communication Director Secretary Director of the Brazilian Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Functional Neurosurgeon at Beneficência Portugues of São Paulo Hospital, Brazil Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Mayo Clinic Florida, USA From September 3rd to 6th, 2024, the XX World Congress of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery unfolded in the vibrant city of Chicago, USA, marking the 75th anniversary of modern stereotaxis. This landmark event brought together over 744 distinguished experts, including world-renowned neurosurgeons, aspiring professionals, leading researchers, healthcare specialists, and peers from 52 countries, all united by their commitment to advancing the field of Functional Neurosurgery. Over the course of four days, participants explored the latest scientific breakthroughs, addressed pressing challenges, and examined transformative trends reshaping the discipline. Since its inception in 1963, the WSSFN Congress has been held regularly and remains a cornerstone event in the neurosurgery community. The 2024 Congress featured a meticulously curated program that promoted interdisciplinary collaboration and offered a comprehensive overview of current developments in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. Attendees engaged in state-of-the-art symposia, interactive breakfast sessions, and hands-on workshops led by internationally recognized authorities—enhancing both skills and knowledge. For early-career professionals, pre-conference workshops provided invaluable practical training in cutting-edge techniques, guided by some of the world’s most respected experts. Participants were invited to present their research, gain international recognition, and foster collaborations that extended beyond the congress (Figure 1). This platform highlighted groundbreaking contributions to the field, sparking insightful discussions and innovative ideas to further the advancement of functional neurosurgical care. Figure 1. The global WSSFN community came together to exchange experiences across cultures, share diverse perspectives, collaborate, and expand professional networks—while forming meaningful, lasting relationships (Figure 2). Together, we celebrated a milestone in the history of stereotaxis and helped shape a shared vision for the future of Functional Neurosurgery. Figure 2. The Congress also celebrated the importance of community and connection. Through vibrant social events, participants engaged with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds and enjoyed a memorable time of learning, all while building meaningful connections and strengthening the global WSSFN network. One of the key outcomes of the XX World Congress of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery was the establishment of a Globalization Task Force, dedicated to advancing functional neurosurgery in regions of the world where such treatments are currently underdeveloped or unavailable. After all, WSSFN 2024 was not only about science. With its unique blend of iconic architecture, rich history, and dynamic culture, Chicago offered the perfect backdrop for both professional and personal growth. Whether exploring the city’s modern innovations or enjoying its traditional charm, attendees experienced an unforgettable combination of professional enrichment and leisure. One of the event’s highlights was the reception at Navy Pier (Figure 3), which provided a picturesque and festive setting for networking and celebration. Figure 3. As we celebrate this milestone in the history of stereotaxis, WSSFN 2024 stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of progress and the fostering of a shared vision for the future of Functional Neurosurgery. A highlight of the event was the unforgettable award ceremony, where named awards were presented to some of the society’s most deserving members. The Spiegel-Wycis Awards were awarded to Bart Nuttin from the Netherlands and Joachim Krauss from Germany; the Tasker Award was presented to Jin Woo Chang from South Korea; and the Gildenberg and Kandel Awards were given to U.S. neurosurgeons Michael Schulder and Kim Burchiel, respectively. At the closing ceremony, Dr. Mojgan Hodaie presented the awards and introduced the newly elected 2024–2028 board members (Figure 4). Dr. Konstantin Slavin gave his closing remarks and introduced Dr. Jean Régis, the incoming WSSFN President for 2025–2026 (Figure 5). Figure 4. Figure 5. Letter prepared by Dr Vanessa Milanese Join us as we continue to shape the future of Functional Neurosurgery alongside this inspiring leadership team. The Scientific Program Committee, under the leadership of Professor Sameer Sheth, deserves commendation for curating an outstanding and thoughtfully designed program.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Targeting the Centromedian Nucleus (CMN) of the Thalam
Speakers Adriana Lucía López Ríos, MD Adriana Lucía López Ríos, MDDivision of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery. Hospital San vicente Fundación Rionegro, Colombia. Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgeon with a formal clinical fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada; degree recognized by the Colombian Ministry of Education. Oncologic and Skull Base Neurosurgeon with a formal clinical fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada; degree recognized by the Colombian Ministry of Education. Neurosurgeon graduated from the University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Physician and Surgeon graduated from the University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Active member of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, and also of the Colombian Society of Neurosurgery. Founder of the Neurofunctional Program at the San Vicente Foundation University Hospital and Specialized Centers of San Vicente Foundation, which currently has 34 specialists involved in the process of patient selection, surgical intervention, rehabilitation, and follow-up for candidates for deep brain stimulation, spinal stimulation, cortical stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, phrenic nerve stimulation, occipital nerve stimulation, among others. > Outcomes of Centromedian Nucleus DBS in 32 Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy William Hutchison, PhD, Msc, Professor William Hutchison. PhD, Msc, ProfessorDept.’s Surgery and Physiology, Univ of Toronto. Senior Scientist, Clinical and Computational Neuroscience. Krembil Research Institute, Humboldt Scholar. Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Ontario, Canada Dr. William D. Hutchison is a Full Professor of Surgery and Physiology at St. George’s University, University of Toronto. He holds a PhD from the Australian National University (1990), an MSc from the University of Toronto (1986), and a BSc (Honours) from the University of Toronto (1983). His career includes roles as Senior Scientist at the Toronto Western Research Institute and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Hutchison has received numerous awards, including the Kraicer Award and the Alexander Von Humboldt Scholarship. His research focuses on deep brain stimulation and movement disorders, with notable publications in Nature Communications and NeuroImage. He has secured significant research funding from CIHR and the W. Garfield Weston Foundation. Jesús Pastor, PhD Jesús Pastor, PhDHead of Clinical Neurophysiology Department. University Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain PhD in Neurosciences and Head of the Clinical Neurophysiology Department at the Hospital de la Princesa. Responsible for neurophysiological studies at the National Reference Units for the Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy, Pain Treatment by Neuromodulation and Surgical Treatment of Movement Disorders. Principal Investigator of the Epilepsy and Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Group, Translational Neuroscience area, at the Princesa Biomedical Research Institute. Author of 220 conference communications and more than 150 publications including international articles and chapters. Principal Investigator of more than 10 competitive research projects. Research Interest Score = 1343, h-index = 28. Cristina Torres Díaz, MD, PhD Cristina Torres Díaz, MD, PhDDeparment of Neurosurgery. University Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain After completing her neurosurgery residency, Dr. Torres pursued a fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, Canada, from 2008 to 2010. She earned her PhD from the Autonomous University of Madrid, focusing on medication-resistant epilepsy, graduating cum laude.Dr. Torres is currently Co-Director of the Movement Disorders Surgery Unit at the Neurosurgery Department of University Hospital La Princesa, a national reference center for the surgical treatment of medication-resistant epilepsy, movement disorders, and neuropathic pain. She is also at the Functional Neurosurgery Department at Ruber International Hospital in Madrid. Additionally, Dr. Torres serves as Secretary of the Spanish Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (SENFE). Adriana Lucía López Ríos, MDDivision of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery. Hospital San vicente Fundación Rionegro, Colombia. Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgeon with a formal clinical fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada; degree recognized by the Colombian Ministry of Education. Oncologic and Skull Base Neurosurgeon with a formal clinical fellowship at the University of Toronto, Canada; degree recognized by the Colombian Ministry of Education. Neurosurgeon graduated from the University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Physician and Surgeon graduated from the University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Active member of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, and also of the Colombian Society of Neurosurgery. Founder of the Neurofunctional Program at the San Vicente Foundation University Hospital and Specialized Centers of San Vicente Foundation, which currently has 34 specialists involved in the process of patient selection, surgical intervention, rehabilitation, and follow-up for candidates for deep brain stimulation, spinal stimulation, cortical stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, phrenic nerve stimulation, occipital nerve stimulation, among others. > Outcomes of Centromedian Nucleus DBS in 32 Patients with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy William Hutchison. PhD, Msc, ProfessorDept.’s Surgery and Physiology, Univ of Toronto. Senior Scientist, Clinical and Computational Neuroscience. Krembil Research Institute, Humboldt Scholar. Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Ontario, Canada Dr. William D. Hutchison is a Full Professor of Surgery and Physiology at St. George’s University, University of Toronto. He holds a PhD from the Australian National University (1990), an MSc from the University of Toronto (1986), and a BSc (Honours) from the University of Toronto (1983). His career includes roles as Senior Scientist at the Toronto Western Research Institute and Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Hutchison has received numerous awards, including the Kraicer Award and the Alexander Von Humboldt Scholarship. His research focuses on deep brain stimulation and movement disorders, with notable publications in Nature Communications and NeuroImage. He has secured significant research funding from CIHR and the W. Garfield Weston Foundation. Jesús Pastor, PhDHead of Clinical Neurophysiology Department. University Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain PhD in Neurosciences and Head of the Clinical Neurophysiology Department at the Hospital de la Princesa. Responsible for neurophysiological studies at the National Reference Units for the Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy, Pain Treatment by Neuromodulation and Surgical Treatment of Movement Disorders. Principal Investigator of the Epilepsy and Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Group, Translational Neuroscience area, at the Princesa Biomedical Research Institute. Author of 220 conference communications and more than 150 publications including international articles and chapters. Principal Investigator of more than 10 competitive research projects. Research Interest Score = 1343, h-index = 28. Cristina Torres Díaz, MD, PhDDeparment of Neurosurgery. University Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain After completing her neurosurgery residency, Dr. Torres pursued a fellowship
The role of Radiofrequency lesioning in the modern era of functional neurosurgery
Despite the dominance of neurostimulation technology, stereotactic lesioning operations continue to play a significant role in the treatment of movement disorders, pain, and certain psychiatric disorders. In recent years, renewed interest in lesioning interventions can be attributed to significant achievements in neuroradiological, neurophysiological, and stereotactic software technologies. The webinar addresses the general issues of using stereotactic RF lesioning for treating movement disorders, epilepsy, and psychiatric disorders. Speaker Dr. Konstiantyn Kostiuk Department of Functional neurosurgery and neuromodulationRomodanov Neurosurgery InstituteKyiv, Ukraine Vice-president of Ukrainian League Against Epilepsy His areas of practice include epilepsy surgery, stereotactic functional neurosurgery, neuromodulation, neurooncology, radiosurgery, and psychosurgery. /wp-content/uploads/videos/webinar01072024.mp4 Moderated by Dr Nico EnslinConsultant neurosurgeonRed Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and ConstantiabergUniversity of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Spinal Cord Stimulation Technologies: Foundational differences and Implications on use.
The presentation will examine the technology differences among major manufacturers and the evidence attached to it. The presentation will allow the listener to grasp the biophysical and system differences and the implications for the use. Speaker Dr. Ahmed Raslan Professor of Neurological Surgery at OHSUPresident-Elect of NANS /wp-content/uploads/videos/wssfn26032024.mp4 Moderated by Dr Nico EnslinConsultant neurosurgeonRed Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and ConstantiabergUniversity of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa