“This is an accelerator for discovery”
In August of 2021, Houston Methodist and Rice University established the joint Center for Translational Neural Prosthetics and Interfaces to create a collaborative human laboratory and nurture functional interactions between Rice engineers and Houston Methodist neurosurgeons and regeneration biologists.
Neurosurgery’s history of excising diseased tissue is morphing into a future in which technology integrated with the brain may help restore function, movement, cognition and memory after patients suffer from strokes, spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, cortical motor/sensation conditions and other neurological disorders.
“This partnership is a perfect blend of talent,” said Marcia O’Malley, PhD, the Thomas Michael Panos Family Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Rice. “We will be able to design studies to test the efficacy of inventions and therapies and rely on patients and volunteers who want to help us test our ideas.
Education
The center’s relationship with Rice University also extends to graduate and undergraduate students. Through participation in collaborative lab research Rice students will have access to the state-of-the-art facilities and advanced equipment managed by the center. Additionally, the center’s seminar series will provide students access to learn about cutting-edge research in a wide range of areas including prosthetic design, neuromodulation, nano-neurotechnology and other emerging fields that link with new and ongoing center initiatives.
Clinical Trials
As a center focused on the translational nature of prosthetics, we’re proud to already host our first clinical trial. Dr. Dimitry Sayenko is leading the EXASTIM Pilot Feasibility Clinical Validation Study. This clinical trial is a collaboration with Aneuvo, a bioelectronics medical device company that brings over three decades of research and a perpetual desire for bringing solutions to help people in need. Aneuvo’s distinctive approach centers on applying neuromodulation to address a variety of chronic diseases and injuries that up until now have defied conventional medical treatment.