This project has created neuroprostheses that restore movement and autonomic functions in people with spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s disease. The team has given hope to millions and established a model for how neurotechnology can transform modern medicine.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people suffer from spinal cord injuries (SCI) or Parkinson’s disease (PD), disrupting communication between the brain and the neurons of the spinal cord that control movement and autonomic functions. The result is severe motor and autonomic impairments that drastically reduce quality of life and require intensive care.
Researchers from EPFL and CHUV in Switzerland have developed ground-breaking spinal neuroprostheses that, through precise application of epidural electrical stimulation, reactivate the spinal neurons controlling walking and blood pressure.
By stimulating the nerves where they enter the spinal cord – through the dorsal nerve roots – these prosthetic implants can now restore walking, standing balance, navigation across complex terrain and blood pressure regulation in both animals and humans with chronic paralysis or Parkinson’s disease.
Over several years, the team combined neurophysiology, neurosurgery, and neurotechnology to understand how stimulation interacts with the spinal cord.
The result was:
To bring the technology from the lab to patients, the researchers founded ONWARD Medical and .NeuroRestore, ensuring clinical trials, further development, and the training of new scientists. The clinical platform ARCIM is expected to revolutionize treatment for SCI and PD, with the potential to significantly reduce disability and healthcare costs.
The project’s core values – curiosity, collaboration, responsibility, respect, and openness – are reflected in their partnerships with patient organizations, mentoring programs for young researchers, and active public engagement through media and events.
