Neurorheumatology with a spin: Therapeutic innovation with the caloric test in nociplastic pain

Our sense of balance has deep evolutionary, ontogenetic and integrative foundations in brain-behaviour responses that have come to light particularly since the late 20th Century. The caloric test — via the vestibulo-ocular reflex — is a simple, low-cost, low-risk, non-invasive and widely used mainstream neurodiagnostic technique for balance problems and brain death, with a long-standing record of safety since it’s development over a century ago. The technique is routinely performed for example in primary care clinics by GPs and nurses (for cerumen removal), audiologists, neurologists and ENT physicians.

Over recent decades it’s renewed transformative potential is highlighted by remarkable therapeutic benefits shown in adults with often disabling refractory conditions such as phantom limb and central post-stroke pain, migraine, CRPS/allodynia and nociplastic disease; other neurological disorders. This talk will present a high-level overview of the technique’s wide-ranging multimodal effects across mood, pain, cognition, attention, perception, beliefs/insight and mobility — with a practical lens towards accessible, scalable and innovative clinical care for people suffering from chronic primary pain conditions and other complex conditions.

PRESENTER: Dr Trung Thành Ngô — The University of Queensland | Tess Cramond Pain & Research Centre

Trung has over 15 years of STEMM capabilities in driving fundamental discovery and clinical translation projects, along with delivering specialist research evaluation services for several large-scale strategic and funding priorities.

Please note limited seats are available and registrations will close on Tuesday 5th May 2026 or earlier once capacity has been reached.

Read more and/or register here