Scientists Study New Ways to Restore Hand Movement after Paralysis
From: Medical Design Technology - 02/14/2014

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering has awarded
UCLA researchers Dr. Daniel Lu (Brentwood) and Dr. Reggie Edgerton (Bel Air)
a $6 million, five-year grant to explore new therapies for the approximately
273,000 Americans living with spinal-cord injuries. Some 12,000 Americans
suffer such injuries each year.

The UCLA research will focus on restoring hand function to patients paralyzed
from the neck down. Cervical spinal-cord injuries - those involving the neck
- make up more than half of the cases in the US.

The most promising therapy uses electrical impulses to stimulate dormant
pathways within the spinal cord, allowing the brain's previously unrecognized
signals to reach past the injured area.

Read the entire article at:
http://www.mdtmag.com/news/2014/02/scientists-study-new-ways-restore-hand-movement-after-paralysis

Links:
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
http://www.nibib.nih.gov/

Reawakening Spinal Cord Circuits Shows Promise for the Paralyzed
http://www.nibib.nih.gov/news-events/newsroom/reawakening-spinal-cord-circuits-shows-promise-paralyzed

Bioengineering Research Partnership Work Allows Paraplegic Man to Stand, Move
  Legs 
http://www.nibib.nih.gov/news-events/newsroom/bioengineering-research-partnership-work-allows-paraplegic-man-stand-move-legs