Dear Referrers,
We are writing to introduce Brain Aid Clinics (BAC) as a collaboration partner for patients requiring advanced neurotherapeutic and investigational care in a discreet environment.
Our clinic in Southport specialises in evidence-based neurostimulation and multidisciplinary support for treatment-resistant psychiatric and neurologic disorders. We believe our services can complement the outstanding work being done at Gold Coast Private Hospital.
Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD)
MRI-Guided rTMS for TRD
We provide MRI-guided, neuronavigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for patients with treatment-resistant depression, delivered by AHPRA-accredited psychiatrists.
At Brain Aid Clinics, patients who are eligible for rTMS sessions for TRD are bulk-billed (MBS 14216, 14217, 14219 and 14220).
Research shows high-frequency rTMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex achieves a response rate of 40% or higher in TRD patients who have not responded to two or more antidepressant trials. Neuronavigation using MRI provides a level of accuracy and repeatability that is appropriate when dealing with the brain and the mechanism of action for rTMS.
Investigational Support for Neurodegenerative and Neuropathic Conditions
Overseen by our Clinical Advisory Board, Brain Aid Clinics can be consulted for neurostimulation and alternative treatment options for the following conditions:
Functional Neurological Disorders
Comprehensive neurostimulation protocols for functional neurological conditions.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Pilot rTMS regimens targeting M1 and DLPFC for refractory cases, supported by emerging evidence in neuropathic pain management (Zhu et al., 2022; Chang, 2020).
Chronic Pain and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Motor cortex rTMS protocols to address maladaptive cortical plasticity, with pilot studies showing promise for pain relief (Lefaucheur & Nguyen, 2019; Foglia et al., 2025; Gaertner et al., 2018).
Post-Stroke Management
Rehabilitation-focused neurostimulation interventions to support recovery.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Adjunctive rTMS targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, with early studies indicating improvements in cognitive scores (Sabbagh et al., 2020; Sathappan et al., 2019).
Motor Symptoms for Parkinson’s Disease
High-frequency rTMS over the primary motor cortex (M1) to enhance dopaminergic function and reduce bradykinesia, offering potential relief for motor symptoms (Chou et al., 2015; Fregni et al., 2006).
These investigational treatments follow clinical-trial standards, including rigorous patient selection, outcome monitoring, and safety protocols. All treatments are stated as investigational, overseen and prescribed by a psychiatrist, chronic pain specialist and/or neurologist, with the involvement of the medical and allied health teams.
Our Clinical Advisory Board
Dr Samir Ibrahim OAM FRANZCP
Emeritus Co-Chair, Clinical TMS Society; 40+ years in adult psychiatry, psychopharmacology, and rTMS, leading programs across psychiatric disorders.
A/Prof Wayne Ng PhD FRACS
Gold Coast neurosurgeon specializing in skull-base, neuro-oncology, and spine; focuses on translating research into surgical innovation.
Prof Philip Morris AM FRANZCP
Expert in addiction medicine, adult psychiatry, and psychogeriatrics; drives research on Alzheimer’s and cognitive disorders.
Dr Ronak Reshamwala
General surgeon and senior research fellow in regenerative neurology and spinal cord injury, steering translational research and clinical trials.
Referral and Collaboration
We welcome referrals for patients on stable pharmacotherapy who continue to experience symptoms of depression, cognitive decline, chronic neuropathic pain, or movement disorders. These patients may benefit from our rTMS-based interventions.
Additionally, we offer complementary services, including:
- Neuropsychological assessments to support diagnostic clarity
- DNA Brain Nutrition testing for personalised treatment insights
- Thought Movement Food™ lifestyle optimisation to enhance overall well-being
Referrals require a standard psychiatric or neurology referral letter (bulk-billed), and our team completes clinical triage within 5–7 business days. We value open communication and are happy to collaborate with you to tailor treatment plans to your patients’ needs.
For more details on our protocols, publication references, or HREC approval codes, please visit www.brainaidclinics.com/research or contact us directly. We’d be delighted to arrange a site visit to discuss how we can support your patients.
Kind regards,
Dr Grace Ng
This information is meant for healthcare professionals who wish to refer patients to Brain Aid Clinics. If you are not a healthcare practitioner, please kindly contact our team instead on info@brainaidclinics.com.
References
- Chang, M. C. (2020). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and neuropathic pain: A meta-analysis. Brain Stimulation, 13(5), 1256–1263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brs.2020.06.010
- Chou, Y.-H., Hickey, P. T., Sundman, M., Song, A. W., & Chen, N.-K. (2015). Effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor symptoms in Parkinson disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Neurology, 72(4), 432–440. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.4380
- Foglia, S. D., Drapeau, C. C., Ramdeo, K. R., Adams, F. C., Soppitt, D. B., Rehsi, R. S., Shanthanna, H., & Nelson, A. J. (2025). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome: A pilot study. Journal of Pain Research, 18, 367–377. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S496519
- Fregni, F., Ono, C. R., Santos, C. M., Bermpohl, F., Buchpiguel, C., Barbosa, E. R., Marcolin, M. A., Pascual-Leone, A., & Valente, K. D. (2006). Effects of antidepressant treatment with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and fluoxetine on brain perfusion in Parkinson disease. Neurology, 66(11), 1629–1637. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000218194.12054.60
- Gaertner, M., Kong, J. T., Scherrer, K. H., Foote, A., Mackey, S., & Johnson, K. A. (2018). Advancing transcranial magnetic stimulation methods for complex regional pain syndrome: An open-label study of paired theta burst and high-frequency stimulation. Neuromodulation: Journal of the International Neuromodulation Society, 21(4), 409–416. https://doi.org/10.1111/ner.12760
- Lefaucheur, J.-P., & Nguyen, J.-P. (2019). A practical algorithm for using rTMS to treat patients with chronic pain. Neurophysiologie Clinique, 49(4), 301–307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucli.2019.07.014
- Lefaucheur, J.-P., Aleman, A., Baeken, C., Benninger, D. H., Brunelin, J., Di Lazzaro, V., Filipović, S. R., Grefkes, C., Hasan, A., Hummel, F. C., Jääskeläinen, S. K., Langguth, B., Leocani, L., Londero, A., Nardone, R., Nguyen, J.-P., Nyffeler, T., Oliveira-Maia, A. J., Oliviero, A., … Ziemann, U. (2020). Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): An update (2014–2018). Clinical Neurophysiology, 131(2), 474–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2019.11.002
- Oberman, L. M., Hynd, M., Nielson, D. M., Towbin, K. E., Lisanby, S. H., & Stringaris, A. (2021). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for adolescent major depressive disorder: A focus on neurodevelopment. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, Article 642847. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.642847
- Sabbagh, M., Sadowsky, C., Tousi, B., Agronin, M. E., Alva, G., Armon, C., Bernick, C., Keegan, A. P., Karantzoulis, S., Baror, E., Ploznik, M., & Pascual-Leone, A. (2020). Effects of a combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and cognitive training intervention in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 16, 641–650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2019.08.197
- Sathappan, A. V., Luber, B. M., & Lisanby, S. H. (2019). The dynamic duo: Combining noninvasive brain stimulation with cognitive interventions. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 89, 347–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.10.006
- Zhu, Y., Li, D., Zhou, Y., Hu, Y., Xu, Z., Lei, L., Xu, F., & Wang, J. (2022). High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for chronic pain and chronic pain with depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 13(17), 2547–2556. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00395
The information in this section is meant for medical practitioners and other health professionals. I am a health professional.