Abstract

SCRP BEST PRACTICE FORUM presents the Dr. Albin T. Jousse Lecture Series Objectives: identify the levels of evidence of epidural stimulation for recovery of spinal cord injury; describe the novel findings of restoration of motor control in individuals with motor complete SCI with epidural stimulation; and discuss recovery of autonomic function following training with Epidural Stimulation after spinal cord injury.

Biography

Susan J. Harkema, PhD, Professor, holds the Owsley B. Frazier Rehabilitation Chair in Neurological Surgery and is the Associate Director of the Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center at the University of Louisville.  Dr. Harkema also leads the KSCIRC translational faculty within the Pediatric NeuroRecovery, Adult NeuroRecovery, and Epidural Stimulation Programs.

 Over the last 27 years, her research has focused on neural plasticity of spinal networks and recovery of function after spinal cord injury.   She has maintained an NIH funded research program since 1998 and she has been funded by grants from the NINDS, NCRR, NIBIB; as well as the DOD, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the Paralyzed Veterans Administration, Wings for Life and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.  During her career, she has published more than 110 scholarly manuscripts and book chapters; delivered over 100 worldwide lectures and keynotes and she has sat on numerous advisory boards and review panels.