International Neuromodulation Conference
Technology-driven combinatorial therapy to rewire the spinal cord after injury
The conference brings together leading scientists from the fields of neuroscience and biomedical and neuroengineering. Despite substantial progress in understanding the cascade of cellular and molecular events caused by spinal cord trauma, to date, there are no effective interventions that mitigate the extent of damage, and current treatment strategies have proven insufficiently effective in patients.
Traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) are primarily caused by mechanical damage to the central nervous system. They result in impairment of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, thus requiring tailored and personalised treatment strategies. Plasticity can result in new connections and neural circuits, contributing to a compensatory recovery of function. Conventional therapies focus on resolving individual aspects of SCI, thereby neglecting synergies to tackle multiple targets simultaneously. Technological advances in drug delivery systems, biomaterials, electronics, and robotics have resulted in novel developments to regain lost function after SCI. ReWIRE develops and links high-tech routes into new personalized, combinatorial approaches to rewire the spinal cord.