(BPT) - New precision neuromodulation techniques are redefining what's possible for neurological recovery, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has made a substantial investment to support the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in leading a national effort. MUSC now stands at the forefront of groundbreaking research with the potential to transform recovery from stroke and neurological conditions.
More than 795,000 Americans experience a stroke every year. Millions more face other neurological injuries and diseases, including Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury and depression. For many, the hardest part begins afterward: trying to regain movement, speech and independence and return to a good quality of life. It's estimated that more than 13 million Americans are navigating recovery from these conditions — often while coping with lasting disabilities. For decades, research has focused on prevention or emergency treatment, not rebuilding lives in the months and years that follow.
Researchers at MUSC are changing that. Led by Steven Kautz, Ph.D., a Distinguished University Professor and the Christie Family Endowed Chair in Stroke Rehabilitation Research in the College of Health Professions, MUSC created the nation's very first precision neurorehabilitation center, where scientists pair personalized neuromodulation with rehabilitation to help the brain rewire itself — a neural-circuit based approach to rehabilitation.
This approach is so innovative that the NIH chose MUSC as a national leader, awarding the team a highly competitive P50 center grant in its rehabilitation infrastructure network — its flagship investment in rehabilitation research. MUSC's breakthrough research could transform how neurological patients recover across the U.S. and worldwide.
"The recognition of our work by NIH signals that precision neurorehabilitation is the future of neurologic recovery, and MUSC should lead that future," said Kautz. "We're dedicated to exploring the most effective technology to improve recovery for patients everywhere."
Internationally recognized in neurorehabilitation, Kautz and his team combine neuromodulation with rehabilitation to improve recovery for patients with stroke and other neurological conditions.
How neuromodulation works
Strokes alter a person's nervous system drastically, resulting in diminished function that can be very difficult to recover from, even with extensive rehabilitation therapy.
Using advanced precision neuromodulation technology, Kautz and the MUSC team are able to apply the latest imaging techniques to identify specific dysfunctional neural circuits. They then use advanced neuromodulation tools to stimulate those exact circuits during rehab, while patients perform activities guided by rehabilitation experts. This precise stimulation of neural circuits paired with rehab helps the brain to relearn skills and retrain faster, making therapy far more effective.
"While a patient can improve physical functioning to some degree by practicing activities in therapy, their results can be limited, and the process may be long and difficult," explained Kautz. "This groundbreaking technology helps the brain rewire itself, with processes that have rarely been applied to rehabilitation. These neuromodulation tools increase the excitability of a brain region while a patient performs the task so there's more neuroplasticity. Thanks to these precision techniques, and pairing neuromodulation so that the brain is in a more receptive state with rehabilitation, we can repair dysfunctional neural circuits so people will recover their physical functions better and faster. These results can bring real hope to people struggling to recover from stroke."
Real-world rehabilitation
This combination of rehab therapy with precision neuromodulation may also improve the durability of recovery for patients long after they leave rehabilitation. The program at MUSC explores many innovative ways to ensure skills improved in rehabilitation are lasting and applicable to real-world environments. The Clinical Research Center for Restoration of Neural-Based Function in the Real World (RENEW), also spearheaded by Kautz, is the first of its kind in the country to support people making this crucial transition from rehab to home.
Randal Davis, director of Strategic Research Initiatives at the MUSC College of Health Professions, experienced a neurological condition that provided valuable insights.
This situation happens far too frequently, Kautz explained. "Recovery shouldn't end when patients leave the rehab clinic. Too often, gains made in therapy don't translate to real life. MUSC is solving that gap. We've designed labs where we'll use virtual reality to mimic the real world more closely."
Precision neuromodulation as the future of neurologic recovery
Kautz is leading the only precision neurorehabilitation center in the country, and these techniques are already being used or explored for stroke recovery and other neurological conditions.
"These neuromodulation tools are crucial to helping us understand neural circuits, then use that information to tailor precision treatment to each individual. This will help us achieve the maximum functional benefits of therapy for each patient," said Kautz. "And these tools could benefit any condition where neural circuits aren't functioning the way they need to, opening the door for better recovery and helping people improve their physical and mental health, ultimately improving their quality of life."
Trailblazing research
The NIH has recently awarded an additional grant of $7.8 million to complete the RENEW Center, looking to MUSC as a role model for the country.
With this award, NIH has entrusted MUSC with shaping what comes next — not only advancing precision neurorehabilitation but training the researchers who will define the field for decades. The work done here is meant to open pathways, creating a national network of scientists equipped to deliver precision recovery to patients everywhere.
"This level of NIH support validates a decade of groundbreaking work," said Kautz. "These investments show that precision neuromodulation isn't a theory anymore; it's a national priority. Our goal is to develop new knowledge and tools for the research and clinical community so we can bring these innovations into the clinic quickly, so neurological patients everywhere can benefit from the science unfolding at MUSC in real time. This has the potential to be truly life-changing."
