The Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation at Kessler Foundation is proud to announce the implantation of a spinal cord epidural stimulator in an individual with paralysis, marking a significant advancement in spinal cord injury treatment and rehabilitation. The surgical procedure was funded by the Joseph and Cheryl Marino Family Foundation and performed by neurosurgeon Robert F. Heary, MD, at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, part of Atlantic Health System, home of the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute.

This groundbreaking procedure, combined with intensive training, has the potential to improve individuals' motor and autonomic function.

This protocol is part of an NIH-funded exploratory and development research study through The BRAIN Initiative to investigate bladder function and locomotor ability in individuals who have lived with spinal injury for less than 12 months. Once implanted, the device delivers electrical impulses directly into the spinal cord that potentially allow individuals to regain critical bodily functions, prospectively improving bladder function, motor control, and quality of life. 

Claudia Angeli, PhD, assistant director of the Reynolds Center, anticipates future success. "We are eager to expand our understanding of the benefits of spinal cord epidural stimulation in our endeavor to make this technology more accessible to all with spinal cord injury," Angeli said.

Chief Medical Officer of Kessler Foundation and co-director of the Reynolds Center, Steven Kirshblum, MD, added: "Kessler Foundation is excited to be the first in New Jersey to harness the potential of epidural spinal stimulation, a potentially groundbreaking therapeutic technology. The goal is to build upon the wealth of existing neuromodulation research and enhance the lives of individuals with spinal cord injury across multiple domains, potentially paving the way for improved function and quality of life in the future."

Kessler Foundation is proud to collaborate with Atlantic Health System as future surgeries are planned to continue this important research.

With the support of the Reynolds Foundation and other donors, the Tim and Caroline Reynolds Center for Spinal Stimulation at Kessler Foundation is transforming the potential for recovery after spinal cord injury. To date, more than 70 individuals with paralysis have contributed to the steady progress at the Reynolds Center.