The BaP (Brain and Pain) team is integrated by professionals from the University of Santiago (USC) and the Sanitary Research Institute of Santiago (IDIS) and directed by María Teresa Carrillo De La Peña.
Our main research interests are:
Team
University of Santiago de Compostela (USC)
- Improving the evaluation protocols of patients with chronic pain and determining the cerebral mechanisms at the base of pain maintenance over time.
- Identifying biomarkers that would allow the improvement of chronic pain diagnosis and establishing profiles of patients with chronic pain to be able to design strategies for more individualised interventions.
- Assessing the efficacy and effectiveness of non-invasive neuromodulatory techniques to alleviate the problems of refractory drug-resistant pain.
These research lines are aligned with strategic and priority research areas at European, national and regional levels.
Our laboratories are equipped with:
- A full range of psychological and neuropsychological tests and batteries for the evaluation of cognitive and emotional processes,
- Equipment for the recording and analysis of brain electrical activity (EEG/ERPs equipment, specific software for data analysis…),
- Non-invasive brain neuromodulation equipment (stimulators for tDCS, tACS, rTMS) and neuronavigation,
- Quantitative sensory evaluation equipment for the study of pain processing,
- Rooms for the evaluation of patients.
Furthermore, as members of IDIS, the group has access to neuroimaging techniques such as functional and structural magnetic resonance.
BaP is part of the Wellbeing group, directed by Professor María Teresa Carrillo de la Peña, which belongs to the University of Santiago (USC) and the Institute of Health Research of Santiago (IDIS).
This group is working on the following lines of research:
- Improvement of assessment and intervention strategies in patients with chronic pain
- Innovative strategies for the treatment of chronic pain from a neuroscience perspective
- Health education.
- Improvement quality of life in chronic and oncological patients
- Health economics: cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions to improve quality of life
- Socioeconomic determinants of health
- Implementation of digital tools to promote self-care
- Optimisation of clinical pathways for the treatment of chronic patients
More information about the group: Click here
BaP members
María Teresa Carrillo-de-la-Peña
Director of Brain and Pain and lead researcher
Her research experience focuses on the field of brain activity, evaluation of cognitive and affective processes, chronic pain and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques.
- Degree in Psychology from the University of Deusto (1988).
- Doctor of Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela (1993).
- Full Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience at the University of Santiago de Compostela.
Alberto González-Villar
The overall objective of his research is to characterize how chronic pain affects cognitive processing using encephalography (EEG) or other functional neuroimaging techniques.
He is also interested in evaluating whether non-invasive brain modulation procedures have an effect on brain oscillations linked to pain processing.
- PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience, USC (2017).
- Postdoctoral researcher at the Psychological Neuroscience Lab of University of Minho (Portugal).
Antonio Gil-Ugidos
His research focuses on the study of biomarkers related to pain perception and modulation processes, and on the application of non-invasive transcranial neuromodulation techniques for the treatment of patients with chronic pain.
- Degree in Psychology by USC (2019).
- Master in Neuroscience by USC (2020).
- PhD in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology by USC (2025)
- Technician in the BaP laboratory from 2020 to present.
Research data:
Cristina Salgado-Blanco
Her research activity is focused on the field of Neuropsychology. Specifically, in the evaluation of new methods of detection and intervention in cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms associated with cancer.
- Degree in Psychology by the USC (2020).
- Master’s Degree in General Health Psychology and Master’s Degree in Clinical Neuropsychology by the University of Deusto (2022).
- Currently PhD student in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology: ONCODEP study
- Technician in the BaP laboratory from 2022 to present.
Research data:
Lara Rubal-Otero
Her recent research is focused on the study of pain biomarkers and the effectiveness of non-invasive transcranial neuromodulation techniques for the treatment of patients with chronic pain.
- Degree in Psychology by USC (2019).
- Master in Neuroscience by USC (2021).
- Technician in the BaP laboratory from 2020 to 2022.
- Currently PhD student in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology.
- Technician at IDIS from 2022 to present.
Unai García-García
His research interests focus on the field of chronic pain, specifically on the effectiveness of central and peripheral neuromodulation techniques, therapeutic exercise, and educational interventions.
- Degree in Psysiotherapy by the UVigo (2020).
- Master’s in Manual Physiotherapy, Ultrasound-Guided Invasive Procedures, and Therapeutic Exercise in the Management of Musculoskeletal Pain (2023)
- Technician in the BaP laboratory from 2024 to present.
Research data:
Sara Álvarez-Delgado
Currently researching the identification of pain biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques.
- Degree in Psychology by USC (2020).
- Master in Neuroscience by USC (2022).
- Technician in the BaP laboratory from 2020 to 2022.
- Currently PhD student in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology.
Alejandro Quiroz-Troncoso
Her research interests focus on the study of chronic pain and the identification of associated biomarkers. Currently, her activity is centred on the coordination of the PAINLESS project and on scientific dissemination and communication, actively promoting the team’s results, expanding networks with other associations and researchers, and bringing science closer to the community.
- Degree in Dentistry by University Mayor (2014).
- Master in Public Administration and Government by UPF (2020)
- Master in Neuroscience by USC (2023)
- Master in Biomedical Research by USC (2024)
- Collaborating Researcher at BaP since 2024
Research data:
ORCiD
Alba Fernández-Rodríguez
Her research focuses on improving the understanding of pain through predictive biomarkers and on studying the effectiveness of non-invasive transcranial neuromodulation techniques for the treatment of patients with oncological pain.
- Degree in Psychology by USC (2015).
- Master in Neuroscience by USC (2016).
- PhD in Neuroscience by USC (2022)
- Associate researcher at BaP since 2023
External Collaborators
Natalia Martínez-Rodríguez
Her research focuses on predictive biomarkers of pain and on studying the effectiveness of non-invasive transcranial neuromodulation techniques for the treatment of patients with oncological pain.
- Degree in Psychology by USC (2020)
- Master degree in General Health Psychology by USC (2020)
- Master in Neuropsuchology by UOC (2024).
- Child Health Psychologist in Asturias (2022–2024)
- Technician at IDIS since 2024
María López-Corchón
Her research interests focus on the study of the effect of central and peripheral neuromodulation for the treatment of chronic pain and its combination with physical exercise.
- Graduate in Physiotherapy.
- Master in Neuroscience.
- Currently PhD student in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology.
- Technician in BaP laboratory from 2022 to 2023
Noelia Samartin-Veiga
Her main research interests focus on the study of central mechanisms of pain and the analysis of the effectiveness of neuromodulation techniques for patients with chronic pain.
- Degree in Psychology by the USC (2015).
- Master in Neuroscience by the USC (2016).
- PhD in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology by USC (2022).
- Technician in the BaP laboratory from 2016 to 2023.
Diego Pinal-Fernández
His research focuses on the identification of neural correlates of cognitive impairment associated with age and/or related to chronic pain. He also studies the effectiveness of transcranial electrical stimulation interventions to reduce cognitive impairment.
- Degree in Psychology by USC (2006).
- Master’s Degree in Gerontology by USC (2008).
- PhD in Neuroscience by USC (2015).
- Associate researcher at BaP since February 2023.
Marina Pidal-Miranda
Her research interests focus on the cognitive characterization of patients with chronic pain using psychophysiological and neuropsychological measures, and on the effect of neuromodulation techniques on cognitive functioning.
- Degree in Psychology by USC (2012).
- Master in Neuroscience by USC (2015).
- Technician in the BaP laboratory from 2015 to 2020.
- PhD in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology by USC (2022)
Yolanda Triñanes
Her research interests are biomarkers and characterization of fibromyalgia, central sensitization and chronic pain, systematic literature reviews and evaluation of health services and technologies.
- Degree in Psychology by USC (2007).
- Master in Neuroscience by USC (2015).
- PhD in Neuroscience and Clinical Psychology by USC (2021).
- Technician at the Scientific-Technical Advisory Unit (avalia-t) of the Axencia de Coñecemento en Saúde, attached to the Servizo Galego de Saúde, from 2008 to the present.
Maria Carla Gerra
Currently working as Researcher at the University of Parma (from Nov 1st, 2022), her main research interest focuses on studying genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying the onset of pain. Furthermore, she maintains her interest in exploring the genetics and epigenetics of substance use disorders that she had started during her PhD studies.
- Postdoc at Aalborg University, CNAP group (2017-2021)
- Ph.D. in Biotechnologies, University of Parma (Mar 10th, 2017)
- Master’s degree in Molecular Biology, University of Parma (Oct 24th, 2013)
- Bachelor degree in Biology, University of Parma (Feb 25th, 2011)
Research data:
Jorge Alcantara-Espinosa
He works as biostatistician at the Health Research Institute of Santiago (IDIS). His experience as a biostatistician focuses on the field of epidemiology and public health research. It specialises in the rigorous application of advanced statistical methods to analyse data related to prevalent diseases, evaluating risk factors, and contributing to the advancement of health research.
- Master in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics (2022)
- Master in Big Data and eHealth: (2022)
- Master in Clinical Case Resolution (2019)
- Graduated in Nursing, University of Cadiz (Spain, 2018)
Research data:
Carina Fernandes
Carina is an assistant Professor of Neuropsychology and Cognitive Psychology at the University Fernando Pessoa (Portugal). Her research interests are the neuropsychology of aging and cognitive decline; emotional processing and decision-making, and the study of these topics with neuroimaging techniques.
- Master Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Lisbon (2011);
- PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Porto (2019);
Anthony O’Brien
His research focuses on a non-traditional approach to address prevalent health problems. Areas of interest include non-invasive brain stimulation, neurophysiology, psychophysiology, brain activity, chronic pain, machine learning and health sciences.
- PhD in Medicine by the Universidad de los Andes (enrolled in 2014).
- Master of Public Health in Quantitative Methods by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Our laboratory
