Closing Discussion
Part of Guiding Precision Neuromodulation with Biomarkers: The Path to Personalized Therapy
Details
- Date
- Sunday, January 24, 2027
- Time
- 9:20 AM – 9:30 AM
- Session type
- Concurrent Session
- Schedule
- See this day
About
Neuromodulation therapies, including spinal cord stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and peripheral nerve stimulation, are increasingly used to treat pain and neurological disorders. However, outcomes remain variable, with some patients experiencing substantial benefit while others achieve limited or no improvement. There is a need for better tools to guide patient selection, therapy optimization, and outcome prediction. Biomarkers-objective biological indicators that reflect physiological or pathological processes-have the potential to transform the field by enabling more precise and personalized neuromodulation strategies. Speakers in this session will review neurophysiological markers such as evoked compound action potentials, neuroimaging signatures, electrophysiological signals including circadian rhythms and their impact on pain, and data from SCS programmers as well as wearable technology that may predict treatment response. The speakers will examine the strengths and limitations of existing evidence, as well as the challenges involved in translating biomarker discoveries from research settings into routine clinical practice. Ethical considerations, data integration, and the role of artificial intelligence in analyzing complex biomarker datasets will also be addressed. By highlighting both the promise and the challenges of biomarker-driven neuromodulation, this session aims to provide clinicians and researchers with a comprehensive overview of how objective biological signals may guide the evolution of neuromodulation therapies toward more personalized, precise, and effective treatments for pain and neurological disorders.
Presenters
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Anuj Bhatia is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Director of the Comprehensive Integrated Pain Program at University Health Network, Toronto. He is the Chair of the Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group of the Canadian Pain Society, President of the Canadian Neuromodulation Society, Co-Chair of the North American Neuromodulation Society’s Research Committee and a Vice-Chair of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine’s Research Committee. He has an Adjunct Faculty appointment at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. His research interests include the use of epidemiological tools and wearable technology for assessing outcomes of neuromodulation and other interventional treatments for chronic pain. He has published over 100 papers, 6 book chapters, and co-authored two books on interventional pain procedures. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of Anesthesia & Analgesia, Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, the European Journal of Pain, Canadian Journal of Pain, Pain Medicine, and Neuromodulation - Technology at the Neural Interface. He was a member of the international guideline development panel for the use of intravenous ketamine infusions, cervical and lumbar facet, and sacroiliac joint interventions for relieving pain.
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Dr. Usman Latif is a board-certified interventional pain specialist and Associate Professor at the University of Kansas Health System, where he built the Division of Advanced Analytics and Informatics. He completed Anesthesiology residency (Chief Resident) at Johns Hopkins Hospital, followed by an Interventional Pain fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. Earlier, he trained in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest, served on faculty at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and led Phase I trials at Pfizer. He holds an MBA and later earned a certificate in Value-Based Healthcare Delivery from Harvard Business School.
Dr. Latif focuses on innovative applications of neuromodulation and minimally invasive spine procedures. He frequently lectures internationally, conducts clinical trials, and serves as an Associate Editor for Pain Practice. Extensively published, Dr. Latif engages in product development and has taken many products through studies to FDA approval.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Latif is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of two data technology ventures specializing in deployment-ready machine learning solutions. He serves on the advisory board of most major companies in the pain field. He has also contributed to federal healthcare policy, testifying before the Pew Charitable Trusts on drug shortages and advising Congressional focus groups on the opioid crisis.
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Dr. Usman Latif is a board-certified interventional pain specialist and Associate Professor at the University of Kansas Health System, where he built the Division of Advanced Analytics and Informatics. He completed Anesthesiology residency (Chief Resident) at Johns Hopkins Hospital, followed by an Interventional Pain fellowship at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. Earlier, he trained in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest, served on faculty at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and led Phase I trials at Pfizer. He holds an MBA and later earned a certificate in Value-Based Healthcare Delivery from Harvard Business School.
Dr. Latif focuses on innovative applications of neuromodulation and minimally invasive spine procedures. He frequently lectures internationally, conducts clinical trials, and serves as an Associate Editor for Pain Practice. Extensively published, Dr. Latif engages in product development and has taken many products through studies to FDA approval.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Latif is a serial entrepreneur and co-founder of two data technology ventures specializing in deployment-ready machine learning solutions. He serves on the advisory board of most major companies in the pain field. He has also contributed to federal healthcare policy, testifying before the Pew Charitable Trusts on drug shortages and advising Congressional focus groups on the opioid crisis.