On the morning of June 24, the randomized controlled study titled “The Impact of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on the Level of Consciousness in Comatose Patients” was officially launched at Nanjing Zijin Hospital. Professor Lu Xiao from the Department of Critical Care Rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Medicine Center of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital, leading his team, joined forces with Nanjing Zijin Hospital to conduct an in-depth clinical investigation on this topic. Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital Intensive Care Rehabilitation Department, Center for Rehabilitation Medicine A delegation led by Professor Lu Xiao, together with the hospital’s top leaders and key technical personnel from Nanjing Zijin Hospital—totaling more than 30 participants—attended the event.

              

    At present, China has more than 500,000 patients with chronic disorders of consciousness resulting from traumatic brain injury, stroke, hypoxic encephalopathy, and other conditions, with an annual increase of 70,000 to 100,000 cases. The cumulative annual medical expenditure amounts to approximately RMB 30–50 billion, imposing substantial psychological stress and financial burdens on patients’ families and society at large. Current mainstream clinical treatments still fall short of achieving optimal outcomes. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for promoting arousal in patients with disorders of consciousness has emerged as one of the most cutting-edge research topics internationally in recent years; however, this field remains in its early stages. In this initiative, the Department of Critical Care Rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Medicine Center of the Provincial People’s Hospital has joined forces with Nanjing Zijin Hospital, aiming to leverage a large case cohort and a rigorous research design to explore novel TMS‑based approaches for facilitating recovery of consciousness.

              
                          The launch ceremony was chaired by Gao Zhiqiang, Executive Vice President of Nanjing Zijin Hospital.