Health News
Two University of Louisville professors have received a $6.3 million grant to continue their work helping paralyzed patients restore movement by using electrical stimulation.
The grant was awarded to Susan Harkema and Dr. Jonathan Hodes from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Last year, they received much acclaim when they published a study in the journal The Lancet "showing that the use of continual, direct, electrical stimulation of a patient's lower spinal cord using technology designed for pain relief can allow a person using a wheelchair to stand and bear weight," reports Laura Ungar for The Courier-Journal.
With these new grant funds, Harkema said they will "be able to built a stimulator that will allow the individual to take advantage of these advances in their homes and communities."
One of the initial case studies involved Rob Summers, a former baseball player from Oregon who was paralyzed below the chest after a car accident. After the therapy, he was able to get to a standing position and stand as long as four minutes. "He was also able to take steps with help and move his toes, ankles, knees and hips." Harkema said he continues to improve.
Nationwide, more than 5 million Americans live with some type of paralysis, and more than 1.3 million have spinal-cord injuries. (Read more)
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Health News
U of L profs get $6.3 million to continue spinal cord research
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| Susan Harkema, a University of Louisville professor, talks about epidural spinal stimulation. Courier-Journal photo. |
The grant was awarded to Susan Harkema and Dr. Jonathan Hodes from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
Last year, they received much acclaim when they published a study in the journal The Lancet "showing that the use of continual, direct, electrical stimulation of a patient's lower spinal cord using technology designed for pain relief can allow a person using a wheelchair to stand and bear weight," reports Laura Ungar for The Courier-Journal.
With these new grant funds, Harkema said they will "be able to built a stimulator that will allow the individual to take advantage of these advances in their homes and communities."
One of the initial case studies involved Rob Summers, a former baseball player from Oregon who was paralyzed below the chest after a car accident. After the therapy, he was able to get to a standing position and stand as long as four minutes. "He was also able to take steps with help and move his toes, ankles, knees and hips." Harkema said he continues to improve.
Nationwide, more than 5 million Americans live with some type of paralysis, and more than 1.3 million have spinal-cord injuries. (Read more)
- U Of L Gets Patents For New Cancer Treatments, Spinal Cord Treatments And A New Bone Graft Product
The University of Louisville Research Foundation has recently been awarded patents for improved cancer treatments, a new bone graft material, and therapies for spinal cord damage, and two of the inventions are already licensed and will soon be utilized...
- Uk Is First In U.s. To Conduct Clinical Trial For New Parkinson's Treatment That Shows Improvement In All Five Patients So Far
A new treatment strategy for Parkinson's disease at the University of Kentucky could change the way the ailment is treated, manage symptoms better and halt or reverse the progressive degeneration of the brain that comes with the disease,...
- U Of L, Frazier Get $2.2 Million For Spinal Treatment, Research
The Frazier Rehab Institute and the University of Louisville have received $2.2 million for spinal cord research and treatment. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, is one of 14 awarded in the country. The funds will be used to operate...
- Berman Brain & Spine Neurosurgeon Receives Honor
Richard North, M.D., a neurosurgeon at the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Brain & Spine Institute of LifeBridge Health, has received the North American Neuromodulation Society?s Lifetime Achievement Award. The society?s highest honor, this award is given...
- New Spinal Stenosis Treatment Offers Hope
Spinal stenosis is caused by narrowing in your spine that can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. Symptoms include cramping, pain or numbness in your legs, back, neck, shoulders or arms, and a a loss of sensation in your extremities. It is most...