International Neuromodulation Society
Professional services
UnclaimedAn international nonprofit professional society advancing the science, clinical practice, and public awareness of neuromodulation.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The International Neuromodulation Society (INS) is a nonprofit professional association representing clinicians, scientists, engineers, and other specialists involved in neuromodulation. The field concerns the alteration of nerve activity through targeted delivery of electrical, electromagnetic, or chemical stimulation. Its applications include therapies and research involving the nervous system, pain, movement disorders, and other medical conditions, although the society’s remit is broader than any single treatment or device category. The society was established in 1989 after the first International Congress on Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation in the Netherlands. Its founders formed the organization in Paris to connect medical and technical disciplines that had traditionally worked separately, including neurology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, and cardiology. This multidisciplinary and international orientation remains central to the organization’s identity: INS functions as a forum where basic researchers, translational scientists, physicians, engineers, and allied professionals can exchange evidence and develop the field. INS supports its mission through scientific congresses, educational activity, professional communication, international collaboration, and regional chapter organizations. Its principal publication is Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface, a peer-reviewed journal devoted to basic, clinical, and translational work. The journal is indexed in MEDLINE and is published eight times each year. Through the journal, meetings, chapter networks, and online resources, the society helps disseminate research and information about neuromodulation therapies to professionals and, more broadly, to patients and the public. The organization’s regional structure expanded significantly during the 1990s and 2000s. The North American Neuromodulation Society became the first INS chapter in 1995, followed by national or regional societies in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas. By 2008, INS reported more than 1,200 members worldwide. Reference material later described the association as having more than 1,700 members and a presence in 33 countries. The chapter network gives the global organization a means of supporting locally relevant education and professional communities while maintaining an international scientific identity. A major element of the INS calendar is its World Congress, held biennially and designed to bring together the international neuromodulation community. The society also recognizes work in neurotechnology and neuromodulation through professional awards and participates in collaboration across the medical-device, research, and clinical sectors. In 2007, it received recognition as the Most Valuable Nonprofit Society from Neurotech Reports and received the Golden Electrode Award at the Neurotech Leaders Forum. INS is best understood as a scientific and professional network rather than a commercial product brand. It does not primarily sell neuromodulation devices; instead, its offerings consist of membership, education, meetings, publications, chapter affiliation, and knowledge exchange. Its brand positioning rests on scientific credibility, multidisciplinary cooperation, international representation, and the translation of neuromodulation research into clinical practice. The society’s website, journal, congresses, and chapter organizations form the principal public-facing elements of its identity.
History
The International Neuromodulation Society originated in the international medical interest surrounding epidural spinal cord stimulation and related techniques. Following the first International Congress on Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation, held in the Netherlands in 1989, a group of physicians established the society in Paris. Their aim was to bridge disciplinary boundaries among neurologists, neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiologists, and other specialists whose work touched the emerging field of neuromodulation. From the beginning, the organization was conceived as an international and multidisciplinary body rather than as a national medical association or a commercial device organization. The society’s first scientific meeting took place in Rome in 1992. Its international structure began to develop more formally in 1995, when the North American Neuromodulation Society became the first INS chapter. Additional chapter organizations followed as neuromodulation gained visibility in clinical medicine and neurotechnology. Italy established a chapter in 1999, while the United Kingdom and Ireland and the Benelux countries formed societies in 2001 and 2002. Australia followed in 2004. Chapters in Germany, Japan, and Southeast Europe were established in 2005, and Spain formed its society in 2007. During the same period, national societies in Brazil, Canada, China, France, and Korea joined the INS network. Argentina established its neuromodulation society in 2009. Publishing became another important part of the organization’s infrastructure. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface began publication in 1998 and became the official journal of INS. The journal provides a venue for basic science, clinical research, and translational work related to the alteration of neural activity. It is peer reviewed, indexed in MEDLINE, and published eight times annually. Its role is both scientific and professional: it communicates research findings while representing the interests and concerns of the wider neuromodulation community. The society also developed a recurring international congress program. Its World Congress is held biennially and provides a setting for presentations, professional exchange, and collaboration among researchers, clinicians, engineers, and industry participants. The 15th World Congress was scheduled for Barcelona, Spain, in 2022. Alongside the congresses, INS and its chapters use articles, presentations, websites, and institutional collaborations to improve understanding of neuromodulation among healthcare professionals, patients, and the public. During the 2000s, the organization documented substantial growth. In 2007, it received two forms of external recognition: Neurotech Reports named it the Most Valuable Nonprofit Society, and the Neurotech Leaders Forum presented it with the Golden Electrode Award. In 2008, INS stated that it represented more than 1,200 members worldwide. Later reference material described the society as having more than 1,700 members and a presence in 33 countries. INS is headquartered in San Francisco, California, but its institutional identity is global. Its principal activities are professional and educational rather than commercial. The society’s brand is built around evidence-based advancement of neuromodulation, multidisciplinary cooperation, peer-reviewed communication, and a network of national and regional organizations. Because the supplied reference material does not identify current officers, founders by name, financial data, or a detailed recent operating history, those fields remain unspecified.
- 2022
15th World Congress planned for Barcelona
[1]Barcelona, Spain, was selected to host the society’s 15th World Congress.
- 2009
Argentine chapter established
[1]The Argentinean Neuromodulation Society was founded as part of the expanding international chapter network.
- 2008
Membership exceeds 1,200
[1]INS reported representing more than 1,200 members worldwide.
- 2007
Chapter network expands and society receives recognition
[1]The Spanish chapter was formed, national societies from Brazil, Canada, China, France, and Korea joined the network, and INS received two nonprofit and neurotechnology honors.
- 1998
Official journal begins publication
[1]Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface was first published and later became the official INS journal.
- 1995
First regional chapter established
[1]The North American Neuromodulation Society became the first chapter of INS.
- 1992
First scientific meeting
[1]INS held its first scientific meeting in Rome, Italy.
- 1989
Society founded
[1]Physicians founded the International Neuromodulation Society in Paris after the first International Congress on Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation, with the goal of creating an international multidisciplinary organization.
Products and positioning
A global, multidisciplinary nonprofit society advancing neuromodulation through scientific publishing, education, congresses, professional networking, and international chapter collaboration.
Peer-reviewed medical journal · 1998
Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface
The official journal of INS publishes research spanning the basic science, clinical practice, and translational development of neuromodulation. It serves as a central communication channel for the field and is indexed in MEDLINE. The journal is published eight times per year.
Scientific congress
International Neuromodulation Society World Congress
The World Congress is the society’s principal international meeting program. Held biennially, it brings together clinicians, scientists, engineers, and other professionals to present research, discuss clinical developments, and build international cooperation in neuromodulation.
Professional network · 1995
International chapter network
INS supports national and regional neuromodulation societies across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Chapters provide locally oriented professional communities and educational activity while connecting their members to the broader international society.
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