Precision Neurorehabilitation to Restore Sensorimotor Function

Join us for a talk by Jonathan Calvert, a postdoctoral research associate at Brown University and prospective faculty candidate in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering.

To attend the talk virtually, CLICK HERE.

Abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that can result in permanent loss of sensorimotor function below the SCI lesion. However, the spinal circuitry above and below a SCI lesion remains functionally intact. Over the past decade, my research has focused on developing precision spinal neuromodulation and rehabilitation strategies that harness this residual spinal circuitry to restore sensory and motor function to individuals with severe SCI. Specifically, I have demonstrated that implanted epidural electrical stimulation (EES) arrays below the SCI lesion can restore voluntary movement in study participants diagnosed with clinically complete SCI, even years after injury. Furthermore, when EES is paired with intense neurorehabilitation protocols, participants who previously had no voluntary motor control regained the ability to perform independent overground locomotion. In parallel, I have pioneered the development of non-invasive transcutaneous spinal stimulation (TSS) techniques to target spinal sensorimotor circuitry and restore motor function. Specifically, my work in TSS has established the specificity of muscle recruitment, evaluated techniques to minimize discomfort, and compared motor recruitment between EES and TSS. This work has established TSS as a potential therapeutic approach to restore motor activity following neural dysfunction. Most recently, my postdoctoral research has focused on developing bidirectional intelligent spinal interfaces to bridge the gap of severe SCI lesions. This work has led to the development of novel bioelectronic devices, analysis of spinal compound action potentials, and creation of state-of-the-art computational approaches to optimize neural stimulation and recording. Most significantly, I have led a first-in-human clinical trial focused on combining implantable EES devices with modern neural network models to optimize stimulation parameters, leading to the first demonstration of sensory restoration via neuromodulation following paralysis. My long-term goal is to establish my lab as a world-leader in the study of sensorimotor neuroscience and a hub for translational neurorehabilitation research. 

Jonathan Calvert is currently a postdoctoral research associate in the School of Engineering at Brown University working under the supervision of Dr. David Borton, Ph.D. Dr. Calvert received his bachelor’s degree in bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 2015, and his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and physiology from the Mayo Clinic in 2020. His research interests focus on the development, evaluation, and deployment of neuromodulation technologies to restore sensorimotor function in individuals with severe neurological dysfunction, such as paralysis following spinal cord injury. Dr. Calvert has been recognized as a DARPA Riser Fellow, a T32 Postdoctoral Fellow in Recovery and Restoration of CNS Health and Function, and as Brown University 2024 Engaged Postdoctoral Fellow of the Year. The work presented by Dr. Calvert has been supported by the Department of Defense, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and the National Institutes of Health.