WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute TMS Program reaches 5,000th treatment milestone, expands access to cutting-edge therapy

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Program is celebrating a major milestone with the completion of its 5,000th TMS treatment. 

“This milestone is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team and the transformative impact this therapy is having on our patients,” Umer Najib, M.D., RNI TMS Program director, said. “By expanding access to TMS, we’re giving more people a chance to reclaim their quality of life when conventional treatments have failed.” 

Since its launch in 2020, RNI has grown into the region’s leading provider of innovative TMS therapy, offering hope and relief to patients of the Institute’s Neurology and Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry departments with refractory depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain, chronic tinnitus, and stroke rehabilitation. 

TMS is a noninvasive and targeted neuromodulation therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate targeted areas of the brain, helping normalize activity and reduce symptoms without the need for medication, sedation, or anesthesia. Patients remain awake during treatment and can immediately return to their normal activities. 

The RNI TMS program is the only one in the region — and among a select few in the country — to offer personalized, off-label TMS treatments for a variety of neurological conditions.  

As awareness of TMS therapy grew and patient demand increased, the Program expanded in 2023 with the addition of a second clinical lab, doubling its capacity and enabling the program to deliver more than 2,000 treatments annually

“Today, we continue to refine our protocols and integrate personalized, innovative, off-label treatments for a variety of neurological conditions,” Dr. Najib said. “With both labs expected to run at full capacity this year, we are now focused on scaling the Program further and plan to expand TMS services across WVU Medicine, bringing cutting-edge treatment options to even more patients in need.” 

For more information on the RNI TMS Program, visit WVUMedicine.org/TMS.  

About the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute 

The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) is a comprehensive multidisciplinary patient care, education, and research institute providing neurological and mental healthcare for 300,000 patients visits annually. The 300 physicians and scientists of the RNI improve lives by pioneering advances in neuroscience, brain health, and therapeutics. The RNI team uses the latest technologies with academic, government, and industry partners to make tangible progress to combat public health challenges ranging from addiction to Alzheimer’s disease. For more information, visit WVUMedicine.org/RNI.