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About us

Established in 2016, The Science Behind brings together non-invasive neurostimulation and neuroimaging services to Sponsors and contract research organisations (CROs) for Phase I clinical trials.

Our Mission

Our mission is to be the leading provider of specialist neuroscience support for Phase I clinical trials.

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What we do

Innovatively applying techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), quantitative sensory testing (QST) and electroencephalography (EEG), either independently or in combination with cognitive or physiological assessments, The Science Behind excels in addressing crucial questions related to target engagement, dose response and the timing of efficacy.

Our approach provides information on how a drug impacts various aspects of central nervous system function. This deeper insight into the neural mechanisms of drug action in humans serves to guide the development of new treatments, potentially enhancing their prospects for success in future clinical trials.

Our experience

With experience in designing and implementing studies, The Science Behind is proficient in deploying these innovative techniques within a clinical trial setting. From tailored study designs to meticulous data acquisition and analysis, our services not only add significant value but also ensure that safety and tolerability measurements remain uncompromised throughout the process.

Optic Neuritis

  • EEG screening and EEG safety monitoring
  • First in human trial
  • 68 healthy participants

Epilepsy

  • TMS-EMG & TMS equipment and study personnel
  • Clinical trial phase Ib
  • 16 healthy participants

Parkinson’s Disease

  • Study personnel for CSF sampling
  • 45 patients

Myoclonus Epilepsy with Ataxia (MEAK)

  • Protocol design, TMS-EMG & EEG equipment, protocol training, TMS-EMG data analysis and interpretation
  • Clinical trial phase Ib
  • 8 patients

Meet the team

Tonia Smreczak

Tonia Smreczak

Managing Director and Project Director

Tonia is a dedicated professional, passionate about delivering well managed research services for Phase I clinical trials in the neuroscience and central nervous system area. As founder and Managing Director she drives a culture of collaboration and client-centric innovation. Tonia excels in managing complex projects with precision, ensuring meticulous protocol design and data analysis. Believing in the power of collaboration she values team input and strong stakeholder relationships.

Soffia Cahill

Soffia Cahill

Research Specialist

Soffia graduated from Cardiff University having completed her bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and master’s in Neuroimaging. During her studies, Soffia gained a broad understanding of both cognitive and clinical neuroscience, as well as insight into genetic mapping and cell biology. She has experience with the operation and data analytics of neuroimaging techniques such as MEG, EEG, MRI, TMS and TES. During her studies she gained experience in softwares such as MATLAB, FSL, ExploreDTI and SPSS.

Dr. Roisin McMackin

Dr. Roisin McMackin

Consulting Neuroscience Specialist

Dr. Roisin McMackin, an Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin’s Academic Unit of Neurology, focuses on electrophysiological biomarkers of ALS. A UK Motor Neurone Disease Association fellow, she uses EEG and TMS to study neural network changes in ALS, enhance understanding of its mechanisms, and improve clinical categorisation. Her research also applies TMS-EEG to other neurodegenerative diseases and therapeutic drug development.


Dr. Lorenzo Rocchi

Dr. Lorenzo Rocchi

Consulting Neuroscience Specialist

Lorenzo is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Cagliari, a visiting senior lecturer at King’s College London, and a consultant neurologist and neurophysiologist at the University Hospital of Cagliari. Specialising in general neurology and movement disorders, particularly dystonia and myoclonus, his research uses non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS, TES) and neurophysiological methods (EEG, EMG, evoked potentials) to study neurological disorders.

Dr. George Tackley

Dr. George Tackley

Consulting Neuroscience Specialist

George completed his DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences at Oxford, focusing on conditions like Neuromyelitis optica through neuroimaging. At Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Centre, he leads somatosensation projects, particularly pain. Trained in QST at Heidelberg University, he develops methods to understand pain modulation. His expertise includes providing neurological insights for clinical trials, lumbar punctures, and clinical assessments.

Prof. Michael Banissy

Prof. Michael Banissy

Consulting Neuroscience Specialist

Michael is an award-winning cognitive neuroscientist and Professor Psychology at the University of Bristol where he is also Head of the School of Psychology. He has contributed to several research areas, including social perception, social cognition, creativity, synaesthesia, and brain stimulation. The breadth of his work is not only seen in scientific contributions, but also in his engagement to bring science to the public and industry.


Work with us

We’re always looking for experienced neuroscience researchers to support our clinical trials projects. If you are currently finishing your studies or are post-doc with an interest in getting paid experience working on clinical trials and potentially have capacity in your schedule, we’d love to hear from you.






Area(s) of experience (please select all that apply)*
     





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Thank you!

Thank you for registering your interest in working with The Science Behind.

One of our team will be in touch with you by e-mail to discuss your experience and any projects we may have.

Our commitment to quality

We are committed to exceeding expectations of our clients and partners. That is why we maintain an integrated quality and information security management certified to ISO 9001: 2015 and ISO 27001:2013 standards.

Our services

We offer you the freedom to enhance your service offer or build elements into your study as and when you need to access our services on a study-by-study basis without the need to make significant capital investment in technology and expertise.

Pharmaco-TMS Pharmaco-EEG Cognitive & Physiological Quantitative Sensory Testing