IASP has awarded the 2025 IASP Early Career Research Grant to Jerin Mathew, PhD, (New Zealand) to support his project, Brain-computer Interface Training for Intractable Neuropathic Pain Associated with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions.
Dr. Jerin Mathew is a Lecturer (U.S Equivalent – Assistant Professor) in Clinical Anatomy at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, New Zealand. He is a physiotherapist by profession and a neuroscientist specializing in chronic pain and neuromodulation research. His primary research focuses on understanding the “brain-pain” mechanisms underlying chronic musculoskeletal pain and improving clinical outcomes through non-invasive neuromodulation, particularly Neurofeedback.
Dr. Mathew utilizes a range of advanced techniques, including Electroencephalography (EEG), Neuroimaging, Diagnostic Ultrasound, Quantitative Sensory Testing, Energy Expenditure Index, and Kinematic Movement Analysis, to investigate the interplay between the musculoskeletal system and the brain.
In addition to his core research, Dr. Mathew actively collaborates on projects in professional clinical education, dissection/cadaveric research, brain-organ interactions, rehabilitation, and clinical sonoanatomy. He supervises postgraduate research students in anatomy, medicine, and neuroscience, leveraging his expertise in these areas. He is a principal investigator for various interdisciplinary research programs, including the Pain@Otago Research Theme, Otago Pain Mechanisms and Neuromodulation (OPaMEN) Research Programme, and Point-of-Care Technologies at the University of Otago.
Beyond his research endeavors, Dr. Mathew is a dedicated educator. He teaches across various professional programs, including Medicine, Physiotherapy, and the Postgraduate Surgical Anatomy Programme at the University of Otago. He also contributes to the Postgraduate Pain and Pain Management Programmes in Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch.