Objective
Severe spinal cord injury (SCI) permanently abolishes motor functions caudal to the lesion. Various strategies have been
pursued to promote functional recovery after such injuries. However, none of these attempts were able to return voluntary
movements in paralyzed subjects. Here, we propose an innovative transdisciplinary research program including parallel
approaches that will converge into an integrated multi-pronged therapy able to restore voluntary movements after paralyzing
SCI. To achieve this goal, we will capitalize on our recent breakthroughs that demonstrate the impressive capacity of
pharmacological and electrical spinal cord stimulations to promote full weight bearing walking in paralyzed rats when
combined with rehabilitation. In Walk Again, we will improve high level control of spinal circuits with synergistic combinations
of pharmacological agents, and with the design of multisite stimulation strategies using electrode arrays. Functional electrical
stimulation of muscles will provide complementary low level tuning capacities to adjust limb motion. To allow voluntary control,
we will establish a new line of research and pioneer brain-spinal interfaces by which cortical modulations will directly adjust
stimulations of spinal circuits and muscles. In the final stages, we will enable neurorehabilitation with this cortico-spinal
neuroprosthesis in the presence of anti-NogoA regenerative therapy. The underlying objective is to devise a fully-operative
neuroprosthetic system that will enable self-driven rehabilitation in a permissive plastic environment. Walk Again will fertilize
frontier research with pioneer ideas that will increase European competitiveness while paving the way toward viable clinical
applications to restore function in paralyzed individuals.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
ERC-2010-StG_20091118
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
ERC-SG - ERC Starting GrantHost institution
1015 Lausanne
Switzerland