Lay summary
Paralysis in spinal cord injury is caused by damage to spinal nerves connecting the brain to the rest of the body. One promising emerging therapy is the regeneration of spinal nerves using electrical stimulation. I have developed an ultra-thin implant that can be placed directly over the injured area of the spinal cord to encourage healing. This implant contains electrodes that can both record the natural electrical activity in the spinal cord and create an electric field through the damaged tissue to stimulate nerve regeneration. By regenerating damaged spinal nerves, we aim to reestablish the connection between the brain and body and restore movement to patients with paralysis. In this project I will test electroceutical treatments alone and in combination with adjunct therapies. I will develop new methods to better understand the regeneration that results from our treatments. I will lay the groundwork towards clinical translation of the implant.