An injured spinal cord impairs the brain’s ability to communicate important messages to and from other parts of one’s body. This results in a loss of function like movement, sensation and autonomic control, which affects temperature regulation and bladder or bowel function.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a form of neuromodulation, a technology that acts to stimulate and amplify neural pathways in the central nervous system. SCS is delivered either through a surgically implanted stimulator (placed close to the spinal cord) or through electrodes placed on the skin. It is often delivered in combination with active rehabilitation therapy.
Early studies show that people with SCI who receive SCS can regain paralyzed movement, increase impaired movement, and, potentially, restore autonomic system function, such as blood pressure regulation and sexual function.
- 1968: First commercially available SCS system for chronic pain management released.
- 2000’s: Reggie Edgerton lab at UCLA began experimenting on the effects of SCS to restore function after SCI in animal models.
- 2010: With funding support from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, Edgerton lab alumni Dr. Suzie Harkema implanted the first four human SCI research participants with an epidural spinal cord stimulator at her lab in Louisville, Kentucky.
- 2011: First four SCI research participants began to develop restoration of motor function and also reported restoration of autonomic functions, such as bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and temperature regulation.
- 2012: Edgerton lab begins to develop non-invasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulator based on Soviet era device rediscovered by Yuri Gerasimenko.
- 2015: Kendall Lee at Mayo Clinic replicates Harkema study and validates her findings.
- 2016: Edgerton lab creates first transcutaneous spinal stimulation company, Neuro Recovery Technologies.
- 2017: Edgerton lab alumni Dr. Gregoire Courtine secures funding to develop spinal stimulation lab in Lausanne, Switzerland, and creates offshoot company GTX Therapeutics.
- 2019: GTX Therapeutics acquires Neuro Recovery Technologies, the new company is called ONWARD.
- 2020: Initial publications report similar efficacy of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation compared to epidural stimulation.
- 2021: Edgerton lab alumni, Dr. Parag Gad creates spinal cord stimulation company SpineX.
- 2022: Edgerton lab alumni, Dr. Yi Kai Lao creates spinal cord stimulation company Anneuvo.
- 2022: ONWARD launches international clinical trial UpLift to collect data on restoration of upper extremity function recovery with the objective of seeking regulatory approval from the FDA.
- 2024: ONWARD submits UpLift trial data to the FDA.
Epidural and Transcutaneous SCS
- Transcutaneous – non-invasive form of SCS where electrodes are placed on the skin and used to stimulate the spinal cord.
- Epidural – electrodes are placed surgically between the spinal cord and vertebrae and are used to stimulate the spinal cord.
Efficacy and Safety
- ONWARD Up-LIFT Trial.
Reported Benefits
- JC lived experience perspective
- Evoke Trial (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37640452/)