Cleveland FES Center

01/29/2026

Several FES Center investigators are studying rehabilitation approaches for individuals with spinal cord injury. For example, the KeyGrip study is evaluating the use of a small, inplantable stimulator to activate hand muscles. Study details are at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06611748

01/27/2026

We congratulate Rohit Bose PhD, a post-doc team member working with FES Investigator Emily Graczyk, on this outstanding honor from Linköping University: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/case-western-reserve-university-department-of-biomedical-engineering_rohit-bose-a-post-doctoral-researcher-in-activity-7421610647081283584-OBW9

Rohit Bose, a post-doctoral researcher in Assistant Professor Emily Graczyk’s lab, earned an award from Linköping University to attend its microneurography workshop, where he learned new nerve recording techniques.

Read more news about students and alumni in our latest newsletter: https://bit.ly/45vYqgU

01/22/2026

The Center was thrilled to host Julius Dewald PhD last week as our Neural Prosthesis guest speaker this month. Dr. Dewald is Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences and Professor of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University - The Feinberg School of Medicine. He is also a Professor with NWU McCormick School of Engineering and an Adjunct Professor of BME at University of Twente, The Netherlands.

Dr. Dewald's talk focused on neural mechanisms linked to the loss of independent joint control / spasticity following a unilateral brain injury such as stroke, along with novel treatments using a combination of neurophysiological and engineering techniques. Stay tuned for the video replay on our Youtube channel soon!

Many thanks go out to our marvelous speaker & guest Dr. Dewald, and to our wonderful attendees!

01/20/2026

FES Center researchers at the Cleveland VA Medical Center are participating with two other VA medical centers on a Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs study that may help clinicians diagnose whether a right-brained stroke has caused spatial neglect in Veterans and non-Veterans.

Diagnosis is important, because it may lead clinicians to administer a treatment known to be effective for spacial neglect: visuomotor training while wearing optical prisms (PAT). Currently, some clinicians may be uncertain about SN diagnosis and the appropriateness of PAT.

Researchers plan to develop a biomarker-based process for diagnosis, allowing for a more personalized health care approach to SN rehabilitation.

In all, up to 250 individuals may be recruited for the study, which runs through 2026. For details visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05983185

01/15/2026

We've had a team representing the FES Center and the Advanced Platform Technology Center attending the Amputee Coalition National Conference this week in Las Vegas. Together we're proud to share information about ongoing research into prosthetic technology and contributions to the limb loss and limb difference community. The event runs through today.

01/13/2026

Congratulations to FES member and PhD student Jonah Mudge! Society for Neuroscience

Jonah Mudge, a doctoral candidate in Assistant Professor Emily Graczyk’s lab, won the Society for Neuroscience’s 2025 Trainee Professional Development Award.

The award recognizes students and scholars "who demonstrate scientific merit and excellence in research."

https://bit.ly/45vYqgU

01/09/2026

Earlier this week we hosted two amazing speakers and a great crowd at the Fairmount for our inaugural First Tuesday Seminar of 2026!

Case Western Reserve University, Department of Biomedical Engineering doctoral students Brianna Hutchison and Emily (Cam) Conlin presented their research on sensory motor grasp and the use of brain computer interfaces plus implant technology to help restore hand grasp after spinal cord injury. Both are part of the ReHAB team ("Reconnecting the Hand and Arm to the Brain").

Many thanks to our speakers and attendees! Please mark your calendars for the First Tuesday in February-- our next First Tuesday Seminar.

01/08/2026

Next Thursday Jan. 15 we are excited to welcome Julius Dewald PhD, Chair of the Department of Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine as the inaugural speaker for our Neural Prosthesis Spring 2026 Seminar Series!

Dr. Dewald's talk is "Evidence for an increased reliance on contralesional corticoreticulospinal pathways: maladaptive plasticity following a unilateral brain injury?" The objective is to discuss possible neural mechanisms linked to the loss of independent joint control or limb synergies and spasticity in the paretic arm/hand following a unilateral brain injury, such as stroke.

Please join us to hear from Dr. Dewald and this insightful presentation! save the date and access event details at https://www.addevent.com/event/KN26052589

12/30/2025

2025 was a fulfilling, exciting year for us! Want to know more about what our members and staff accomplished? Then stream our recent State of FES Center annual meeting, posted to our YouTube channel here:

November 5, 2025

12/23/2025

Here's to a year of insights, research, rehabilitation and collaboration. Happy Holidays to you and yours from all of us at the Cleveland FES Center!

12/19/2025

A fascinating visit and Neural Prosthesis Seminar yesterday, with guest speaker Rob Franklin PhD, Senior VP of Brain Computer Interfaces at Blackrock Neurotech!

Dr. Franklin spoke about the history of BCIs and talked about forward momentum in this field. Stay tuned for the video replay on our YouTube.

Thank you, Dr. Franklin, for visiting and another Thank you goes to Center Executive Committee Member, Case Western Reserve University Professor and Center Investigator Bolu Ajiboye PhD for hosting!

12/17/2025

Today at MetroHealthMetroHealth Old Brooklyn Medical Center and Center for Rehabilitation Research, FES Center Researcher and Surgeon Dr. Michael Keith presented the group with a commemorative framed The Plain Dealer article from 1989, discussing the creation and funding of the Cleveland FES Center at the Research & Development - US Department of Veterans Affairs and housed at Cleveland VA Medical Center.

The framing, originally gifted to Dr. Keith and FES Founding Director Hunter Peckham from a research participant, will be on display in the Kevin Kilgore wing of MetroHealth Old Brooklyn Campus.

The article announces the initial funding of the Center and the collaboration between researchers at MetroHealth, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland VAMC, making the Center a national leader in the research and development of functional electrical stimulation and its goal to help rehabilitate people with spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions.

Thank you, Dr. Keith for sharing this beautiful tribute!