Tucked away in an unassuming hallway of Atwell Hall on Ohio State’s medical campus hides the Rehab Lab. Upon entering, the air is filled with joyous concentration as Dr. Wengerd and her team conduct a study with patient Shane Goddard. Paralyzed in the arms, he pinches clips, moving them from surface to surface as the team assesses his success. The team, which is made up of engineers, data scientists, and occupational therapists, works as one unit to analyze the data being produced just feet away. Ultimately, that is what Dr. Wengerd’s new space provides: collaboration.
Funded by the ‘Department of Defense Congressionally directed medical research Program/Spinal Cord Injury Research Program’, Dr. Wengerd’s current study focuses on patients with quadriplegia. “We use [the technology] to try to restore hand function in people who have spinal cord injuries,” Dr. Wengerd explained. The study measures muscular electroactivity and clinical outcomes to determine a change in progress over a period of time. The hope is that, after further results, the technology will be able to be used in patient homes, allowing them more independence in their everyday lives.
Already, results are appearing. Shane stated, “Through this clinical trial… after regaining strength and mobility in my right hand, it makes me continue to attempt new things outside the clinical trial.” He went into further detail explaining how, through successfully completing various exercises in the study, Shane transferred those positive outcomes into his everyday life, prompting him to attempt new, previously daunting, movements. For example, just the night before, he successfully picked up his iPad, something he would have never attempted without participating in the study.
These incredible outcomes are propelled by the research space Dr. Wengerd and her team are creating. The large, open space is intended to be interdisciplinary, having multiple labs in one space. “We can all learn from each other and build off of each other,” Dr. Wengerd explained. Historically, research was conducted in a smaller room, only allowing for one research participant at a time. However, the new space allows for the study to run multiple participants at a time, making a more collaborative and social atmosphere. She stated, “we want people to feel like they can build off of each other’s energies,” and undoubtedly, the space has accomplished this.
Providing adequate resources to both researchers and patients conducting research studies is crucial to the development of necessary medical technology. With results already apparent, the excitement is palpable in Dr. Lauren Wengerd’s Rehab Lab. At its core, the lab promotes collaboration amongst professionals and patients, allowing for important changes to be made in real time. The research at NeuroTech Institute quickly propels lives forward, instilling hope and ultimately reshaping neurotechnology.