Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation In A Paraplegic Human News Briefing

New York Academy of Sciences
May 19, 2011

Welcome and Introductions – Pam Avery, on behalf of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

Presenters:

	Susan Howley, Executive Vice President for Research at the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to curing spinal cord injury and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis, by funding innovative research and through grants, information and advocacy. The Reeve Foundation along with the National Institutes of Health funded the epidural spinal stimulation research.
	V. Reggie Edgerton, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor in the Departments of Integrative Biology and Physiology and of Neurobiology and a member of the Brain Research Institute at UCLA. He is a leading researcher in the field of neuromuscular plasticity. Dr. Edgerton is a member of the Reeve Foundation's Science Advisory Council and its International Research Consortium on Spinal Cord Injury.
	Susan Harkema, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Louisville; Rehabilitation Research Director at the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center; Director of Research at the Frazier Rehab Institute in Louisville; and Director of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network. A leading researcher in the field of neurological rehabilitation, she is the lead author of The Lancet article.
	Joel W. Burdick, Ph.D., Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering at the California Institute for Technology, and former Executive Officer for Bioengineering and Deputy Director of the Center for Neuromorphic Systems Engineering. He is an expert in robotics, computer algorithms and neural prosthetics.
	Rob Summers, Research Volunteer, age 25. An athlete, he was completely paralyzed below the chest after being struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run accident in July 2006. Today, he is able to reach a standing position, supplying the muscular push himself. He can remain standing, and bearing weight, for up to four minutes at a time (up to an hour with periodic assistance when he weakens). Aided by a harness support and some therapist assistance, he can make repeated stepping motions on a treadmill and can also voluntarily move his toes, ankles, knees and hips.