Dr Sharmila Khot
(she/her)
FRCA FFPMRCA MBBS MSc Pain Management, Cardiff University
Teams and roles for Sharmila Khot
Consultant / Honorary Senior Lecturer
Overview
I am a Consultant in the Department of Anaesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. I work within the Division of Perioperative Medicine. I am currently Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), School of Psychology, Cardiff University. My associated research groups are the Imaging Cerebral Physiology and MEG group at CUBRIC.
Publication
2024
- Khot, S., Tackley, G. and Choy, E. 2024. How to distinguish non-inflammatory from inflammatory pain in RA?. Current Rheumatology Reports 26, pp. 403-413. (10.1007/s11926-024-01159-4)
2023
- Hamilton, R. et al. 2023. Measuring osteoarthritis knee nociception using physiological and movement response and a defined thermal stimulus: A proof-of-concept study.. Presented at: The International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies (ICORS), World Congress of Orthopaedic Research, Edinburgh, UK, 7-9 September 2022Orthopaedic Proceedings, Vol. 105-B,. pp. 20-20., (10.1302/1358-992X.2023.8.020)
- Chandler, H. L. et al. 2023. Reduced brain oxygen metabolism in patients with multiple sclerosis: Evidence from dual-calibrated functional MRI. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 43(1), pp. 115-128. (10.1177/0271678X221121849)
2022
- Chiarelli, A. M. et al. 2022. A flow-diffusion model of oxygen transport for quantitative mapping of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) with single gas calibrated fMRI. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 42(7), pp. 1192-1209. (10.1177/0271678X221077332)
- O'Dwyer, S., Boothby, S., Smith, G., Biddle, L., Muirhead, N. and Khot, S. 2022. Unpaid carers are the missing piece in treatment guidelines and research priorities for ME/CFS. BMJ 378, article number: o1691. (10.1136/bmj.o1691)
2021
- Conboy, V. et al. 2021. Chronic musculoskeletal impairment is associated with alterations in brain regions responsible for the production and perception of movement. Journal of Physiology 599(8), pp. 2255-2272. (10.1113/JP281273)
- Chandler, H. L. et al. 2021. Using dual-calibrated functional MRI to map brain oxygen supply and consumption in multiple sclerosis. [Online]. bioRxiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.07.425819
2020
- Jansen, V., Hiom, S. and Khot, S. 2020. Evaluation of the service provided to neuropathic pain patients treated with gabapentin gel, Gabagel™. Presented at: British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Harrogate, England, 10-12 May 2016, Vol. 10. Vol. 2 (Sup. SAGE Publications (UK and US) pp. 62., (10.1177/2049463716639449)
- Rossiter, H., Saxena, N. and Khot, S. 2020. Oscillatory dynamics in ischaemic pain. British Journal of Pain (10.1177/2049463719898111)
2019
- Whittaker, J. R., Bright, M. G., Driver, I. D., Babic, A., Khot, S. and Murphy, K. 2019. Changes in arterial cerebral blood volume during lower body negative pressure measured with MRI. NeuroImage 187, pp. 166-175. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.06.041)
2017
- Merola, A. et al. 2017. Mapping the pharmacological modulation of brain oxygen metabolism: the effects of caffeine on absolute CMRO2 measured using dual calibrated fMRI. NeuroImage 155, pp. 331-343. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.03.028)
2016
- Germuska, M. et al. 2016. A forward modelling approach for the estimation of oxygen extraction fraction by calibrated fMRI. NeuroImage 139, pp. 313-323. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.06.004)
2015
- Khot, S. and Hopkins, S. 2015. Core standards for pain management services in the UK: Section 2.2. Wales. Faculty of Pain Medicine, Royal College of Anaesthetists. Available at: https://fpm.ac.uk/sites/fpm/files/documents/2019-07/Core Standards for Pain Management Services.pdf
- Hiom, S. et al. 2015. Topical delivery of gabapentin (Gaba Gel™) for neuropathic pain: a proof of concept study.. Presented at: Royal Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference 2015, Birmingham, England, 13-14 September 2015, Vol. 23. Vol. S2. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain pp. 46-47., (10.1111/ijpp.12213)
- Hiom, S., Patel, G., Newcombe, R. and Khot, S. 2015. Severe postherpetic neuralgia and other neuropathic pain syndromes alleviated by topical gabapentin. British Journal of Dermatology 173(1), pp. 300-302. (10.1111/bjd.13624)
2014
- Khot, S., Morgan, C. L., Kadambande, S. and Poole, C. D. 2014. Use of 5% lidocaine medicated plasters for the treatment of pain in routine hospital practice: patient reported pain, functioning and satisfaction. Current Medical Research and Opinion 30(8), pp. 1573-1578. (10.1185/03007995.2014.915212)
2013
- Khot, S., Flory, S. and Tahir, T. 2013. A simulation-based course for pain management: Improving skills in the utilisation of bio-psychosocial formulation in non-psychiatrists. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 74(6) (10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.03.049)
2010
- Ghei, A. and Khot, S. 2010. Pain management in patients with head and neck carcinoma.. Otorhinolaryngology Clinics 2(1), pp. 69-75.
Articles
- Khot, S., Tackley, G. and Choy, E. 2024. How to distinguish non-inflammatory from inflammatory pain in RA?. Current Rheumatology Reports 26, pp. 403-413. (10.1007/s11926-024-01159-4)
- Chandler, H. L. et al. 2023. Reduced brain oxygen metabolism in patients with multiple sclerosis: Evidence from dual-calibrated functional MRI. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 43(1), pp. 115-128. (10.1177/0271678X221121849)
- Chiarelli, A. M. et al. 2022. A flow-diffusion model of oxygen transport for quantitative mapping of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) with single gas calibrated fMRI. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 42(7), pp. 1192-1209. (10.1177/0271678X221077332)
- O'Dwyer, S., Boothby, S., Smith, G., Biddle, L., Muirhead, N. and Khot, S. 2022. Unpaid carers are the missing piece in treatment guidelines and research priorities for ME/CFS. BMJ 378, article number: o1691. (10.1136/bmj.o1691)
- Conboy, V. et al. 2021. Chronic musculoskeletal impairment is associated with alterations in brain regions responsible for the production and perception of movement. Journal of Physiology 599(8), pp. 2255-2272. (10.1113/JP281273)
- Rossiter, H., Saxena, N. and Khot, S. 2020. Oscillatory dynamics in ischaemic pain. British Journal of Pain (10.1177/2049463719898111)
- Whittaker, J. R., Bright, M. G., Driver, I. D., Babic, A., Khot, S. and Murphy, K. 2019. Changes in arterial cerebral blood volume during lower body negative pressure measured with MRI. NeuroImage 187, pp. 166-175. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.06.041)
- Merola, A. et al. 2017. Mapping the pharmacological modulation of brain oxygen metabolism: the effects of caffeine on absolute CMRO2 measured using dual calibrated fMRI. NeuroImage 155, pp. 331-343. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.03.028)
- Germuska, M. et al. 2016. A forward modelling approach for the estimation of oxygen extraction fraction by calibrated fMRI. NeuroImage 139, pp. 313-323. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.06.004)
- Hiom, S., Patel, G., Newcombe, R. and Khot, S. 2015. Severe postherpetic neuralgia and other neuropathic pain syndromes alleviated by topical gabapentin. British Journal of Dermatology 173(1), pp. 300-302. (10.1111/bjd.13624)
- Khot, S., Morgan, C. L., Kadambande, S. and Poole, C. D. 2014. Use of 5% lidocaine medicated plasters for the treatment of pain in routine hospital practice: patient reported pain, functioning and satisfaction. Current Medical Research and Opinion 30(8), pp. 1573-1578. (10.1185/03007995.2014.915212)
- Khot, S., Flory, S. and Tahir, T. 2013. A simulation-based course for pain management: Improving skills in the utilisation of bio-psychosocial formulation in non-psychiatrists. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 74(6) (10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.03.049)
- Ghei, A. and Khot, S. 2010. Pain management in patients with head and neck carcinoma.. Otorhinolaryngology Clinics 2(1), pp. 69-75.
Conferences
- Hamilton, R. et al. 2023. Measuring osteoarthritis knee nociception using physiological and movement response and a defined thermal stimulus: A proof-of-concept study.. Presented at: The International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies (ICORS), World Congress of Orthopaedic Research, Edinburgh, UK, 7-9 September 2022Orthopaedic Proceedings, Vol. 105-B,. pp. 20-20., (10.1302/1358-992X.2023.8.020)
- Jansen, V., Hiom, S. and Khot, S. 2020. Evaluation of the service provided to neuropathic pain patients treated with gabapentin gel, Gabagel™. Presented at: British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Harrogate, England, 10-12 May 2016, Vol. 10. Vol. 2 (Sup. SAGE Publications (UK and US) pp. 62., (10.1177/2049463716639449)
- Hiom, S. et al. 2015. Topical delivery of gabapentin (Gaba Gel™) for neuropathic pain: a proof of concept study.. Presented at: Royal Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference 2015, Birmingham, England, 13-14 September 2015, Vol. 23. Vol. S2. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain pp. 46-47., (10.1111/ijpp.12213)
Monographs
- Khot, S. and Hopkins, S. 2015. Core standards for pain management services in the UK: Section 2.2. Wales. Faculty of Pain Medicine, Royal College of Anaesthetists. Available at: https://fpm.ac.uk/sites/fpm/files/documents/2019-07/Core Standards for Pain Management Services.pdf
Websites
- Chandler, H. L. et al. 2021. Using dual-calibrated functional MRI to map brain oxygen supply and consumption in multiple sclerosis. [Online]. bioRxiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.07.425819
- Chandler, H. L. et al. 2023. Reduced brain oxygen metabolism in patients with multiple sclerosis: Evidence from dual-calibrated functional MRI. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 43(1), pp. 115-128. (10.1177/0271678X221121849)
- Chiarelli, A. M. et al. 2022. A flow-diffusion model of oxygen transport for quantitative mapping of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) with single gas calibrated fMRI. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism 42(7), pp. 1192-1209. (10.1177/0271678X221077332)
- O'Dwyer, S., Boothby, S., Smith, G., Biddle, L., Muirhead, N. and Khot, S. 2022. Unpaid carers are the missing piece in treatment guidelines and research priorities for ME/CFS. BMJ 378, article number: o1691. (10.1136/bmj.o1691)
- Conboy, V. et al. 2021. Chronic musculoskeletal impairment is associated with alterations in brain regions responsible for the production and perception of movement. Journal of Physiology 599(8), pp. 2255-2272. (10.1113/JP281273)
- Chandler, H. L. et al. 2021. Using dual-calibrated functional MRI to map brain oxygen supply and consumption in multiple sclerosis. [Online]. bioRxiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.07.425819
- Jansen, V., Hiom, S. and Khot, S. 2020. Evaluation of the service provided to neuropathic pain patients treated with gabapentin gel, Gabagel™. Presented at: British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Harrogate, England, 10-12 May 2016, Vol. 10. Vol. 2 (Sup. SAGE Publications (UK and US) pp. 62., (10.1177/2049463716639449)
- Rossiter, H., Saxena, N. and Khot, S. 2020. Oscillatory dynamics in ischaemic pain. British Journal of Pain (10.1177/2049463719898111)
- Whittaker, J. R., Bright, M. G., Driver, I. D., Babic, A., Khot, S. and Murphy, K. 2019. Changes in arterial cerebral blood volume during lower body negative pressure measured with MRI. NeuroImage 187, pp. 166-175. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.06.041)
- Merola, A. et al. 2017. Mapping the pharmacological modulation of brain oxygen metabolism: the effects of caffeine on absolute CMRO2 measured using dual calibrated fMRI. NeuroImage 155, pp. 331-343. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.03.028)
- Germuska, M. et al. 2016. A forward modelling approach for the estimation of oxygen extraction fraction by calibrated fMRI. NeuroImage 139, pp. 313-323. (10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.06.004)
- Khot, S. and Hopkins, S. 2015. Core standards for pain management services in the UK: Section 2.2. Wales. Faculty of Pain Medicine, Royal College of Anaesthetists. Available at: https://fpm.ac.uk/sites/fpm/files/documents/2019-07/Core Standards for Pain Management Services.pdf
- Hiom, S. et al. 2015. Topical delivery of gabapentin (Gaba Gel™) for neuropathic pain: a proof of concept study.. Presented at: Royal Pharmaceutical Society Annual Conference 2015, Birmingham, England, 13-14 September 2015, Vol. 23. Vol. S2. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain pp. 46-47., (10.1111/ijpp.12213)
- Hiom, S., Patel, G., Newcombe, R. and Khot, S. 2015. Severe postherpetic neuralgia and other neuropathic pain syndromes alleviated by topical gabapentin. British Journal of Dermatology 173(1), pp. 300-302. (10.1111/bjd.13624)
- Khot, S., Morgan, C. L., Kadambande, S. and Poole, C. D. 2014. Use of 5% lidocaine medicated plasters for the treatment of pain in routine hospital practice: patient reported pain, functioning and satisfaction. Current Medical Research and Opinion 30(8), pp. 1573-1578. (10.1185/03007995.2014.915212)
- Khot, S., Flory, S. and Tahir, T. 2013. A simulation-based course for pain management: Improving skills in the utilisation of bio-psychosocial formulation in non-psychiatrists. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 74(6) (10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.03.049)
- Ghei, A. and Khot, S. 2010. Pain management in patients with head and neck carcinoma.. Otorhinolaryngology Clinics 2(1), pp. 69-75.
Research
My specialist clinical interests are in the management of non-inflammatory pain in inflammatory arthropathies such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). I also see patients with primary and secondary fibromyalgias.
I am recently appointed pain fellow within the OMERACT pain working group 2024-2025 https://omeract.org/working-groups/pain/
Pain Physiology and measurements:
I am trained in using and interpreting Quantitative Sensory Testing and have used this modality in healthy volunteers and patient groups. My current project involves collaboration with School of Engineering in developing and automation of my prototype pain device measuring mechanical allodynia.
Clinical: I was a Co-Investigator in a clinical neuroimaging pain study assessing the effect of Tofacitinib (JAK-STAT inhibitor) on Pain processing in rheumatoid arthritis. Cytokines have been implicated in the pathophysiology of abnormal pain processing. Effective inhibition of cytokines may lead to rapid restoration of pain processing and more substantial reduction in pain as well as other symptoms. However specific neural mechanisms of pain and response to biological treatments remain unknown. Applying cutting edge brain imaging techniques we collected pilot data .
Drug research: Through a process of clinical audit, research and publications I have successfully led the development of a market for a ‘specials product’: topical Gabapentin cream, manufactured in a local NHS pharmaceutical unit. My group has validated the existing formulation and trademarked the product; Gabagel.
Neuroscience: Pain is a complex bio-psycho-social phenomenon involving peripheral and central mechanisms. I was a Wellcome Trust funded fellow for pharmacological sedation workstream of the WTSA project evaluating brain mechanisms of sedation including electrical, metabolic and functional connectivity underlying GABAergic and non-GABAergic sedation. We evaluated heat pain phasic and tonic stimuli and oscillatory changes with and without a GABA ergic and opioidergic sedation in healthy male volunteers. I am interested in both forward and reverse translational research.
Methodological: I am interested in supporting the development of functional neuroimaging for clinical applications such as drug development, exploring mechanisms of drug activity with sedation, e.g. GABAergic/non-GABAergic and in clinical pain conditions. I have contributed to the development of advanced methods of functional and structural neuroimaging to characterise anatomical and functional changes in the development of neuroimaging markers of drug effects.
Research Collaborators
Prof Krishna Singh, Head of Human Electrophysiology, CUBRIC, School of Psychology, CU
Prof Ernest Choy, Head of Rheumatology and Translational Research-School of Medicine CU
Prof Kevin Murphy, School of Physics and Astronomy, CUBRIC, CU
Dr Girish Patel, Consultant Dermatologist, Cardiff and Vale UHB and Honorary Senior Lecturer, European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Haydn Ellis Building, CU
Dr Sarah Hiom, All Wales Specialist Pharmacist, R and D, St Mary’s Pharmaceutical Unit, Cardiff and Vale UHB
Dr David Nunns, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust.
Dr Neeraj Saxena, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, Cwm Taf University Health Board, Clinical Senior Lecturer, CUBRIC, Visiting Professor University of South Wales.
Grants
2018-2022 ASPIRE Pfizer Rheumatology and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Awards, Co-I
2021- GW4 Generator Fund, Family care in ME/CFS, Co-PI
2021- Wellcome Trust-Translation of Concept Scheme, Institutional Translational Partnership Award (ITPA)-PI
2021-2022-HEFCW Research Fund, Innovation for All Fund-Translational Kickstart-PI
Teaching
My teaching activity as Honorary Senior Lecturer, School of Medicine, CU (2008-2013), covered several aspects of teaching, from one-to-one sessions as personal tutor to developing innovative teaching techniques locally and at national courses. My audience includes medical students, clinical staff, and undergraduate and postgraduate students and colleagues from various specialities including psychiatry, physiotherapy, rehabilitation medicine, neurology and general practice.
Undergraduate teaching:
I supervise Student Selected Projects most of which have been presented in local and National meetings- SCP project 2024 - abstract submitted to the upcoming British Pain Society ASM 2025.
I have co-supervised UG Engineering student projects involving medical (pain) device development (LTA internship funding) and medical students on summer placements developing a literature review on the subject of pain devices (Welsh Pain Society - Seed Corn funding-PI)- 2022-2023
I supervise medical student doing Intercalated projects (pain or sedation related) in School of Pharmacy.
I have previously taught on the Professionalism and Diversity module (old curriculum) including the interpreter led immersive learning sessions. I have been an examiner for final MBBS and
Clinical specialist teaching: I was appointed Regional Advisor in Pain Management for Wales for the Royal College of Anaesthetists for two 3-year terms, and a member of the Anaesthesia Speciality Training Committee, as well as the Welsh Anaesthesia advisory group as representative for Pain Medicine. I developed the structured training in Pain Medicine in Wales.
I have been invited Lecturer at several national study courses for anaesthetists most notably on the Training the Trainers: Small Group Teaching techniques at the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.
I continue to teach an integrated biopsychosocial approach to pain management and pain physiology to all levels of anaesthesia, GP and pharmacy trainees.
PhD supervision:
I co supervise a PhD student-Mr Mohammed Alghamdi HCARE - The difference between embodiment and distraction approach in immersive virtual reality on patient-reported outcome measures and quantitative sensory testing in people with persistent low back pain
Biography
Undergraduate Education: MBBS
Postgraduate Education: FRCA, FFPMRCA, MD Anaesthesia, Diploma in Anaesthesia, MSc Pain Management Cardiff University
Employment:
2004-present: Consultant in Anaesthesia, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
June 2023- to present: Honorary Senior Lecturer, School Of Psychology, CUBRIC, CU.
April 2019-May 2023: Clinical Research Fellow (Drugs & Physiology), CUBRIC, CU
2013-2018: Honorary Senior Lecturer, CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University (research secondment)
2007-2013: Honorary Senior Lecturer in Medical Education, School of Medicine, Cardiff University (undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, simulation education, course development and training)
Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists of Great Britan and Ireland
- Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine, Royal College of Anaesthetists
- British Pain Society
- Welsh Pain Society
- Society of Anaesthetists in Wales
Contact Details
+44 29208 74000 ext 20030
Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ
Research themes
Specialisms
- Anaesthesiology
- Medical devices
- Pain