Welcome to the Cleveland FES Center

"The Cleveland FES Center exists to provide a critical mass dedicated to the advancement of neuro-augmentation and neuro-prosthetic solutions. We strive to push the research, technology development and clinical deployment until a day when more complete options are made available for patients and clinicians searching for an answer."

- P.Hunter Peckham

Partnering Organizations

The Cleveland FES Center is a consortium of three nationally recognized institutions: Department of Veteran Affairs, MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University. Through the support of these partners, the Cleveland FES Center is able to provide a continuum of advancement.

Vision Statement

Through the diligent exploration of basic discovery, technology development, and collaboration, the Cleveland FES Center will strive to provide those with muscular skeletal or neurological impairments with an option to recover function and enhance life. We will accomplish this by merging cutting edge research.

Mission Statement

The Cleveland FES Center strives to create a fertile environment in which researchers, engineers and clinicians work in collaboration to develop technological solutions that improve the quality of life of individuals with neurological or muscular skeletal impairments the through the use of functional electrical stimulation and enables the transfer of this technology into clinical deployment.

History

Established in 1991, the FES Center is a consortium with three institutional partners: Cleveland VA Medical Center (CVMAC), the private educational institution of Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), and the public hospital system of MetroHealth Medical Center (MHMC).

The Center focuses on the application of electrical currents to either generate or suppress activity in the nervous system. This technique is known as functional electrical stimulation (FES). FES can produce and control the movement of otherwise paralyzed limbs for standing and hand grasp, activate visceral bodily functions such as bladder control or respiration, create perceptions such as skin sensibility, arrest undesired activity such as pain or spasm, and facilitate natural recovery and accelerate motor relearning.

The Functional Electrical Stimulation Center was founded to introduce FES into clinical practice. Our challenge is to translate fundamental knowledge of electrical stimulation of paralyzed nerves and muscles into useful systems that enhanced the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities. We advance toward this goal by integrating and facilitating the efforts of scientists, engineers, and clinicians across the institutional partners.

In an exciting environment of leading scientists, engineers, clinicians, students, and fellows working together, we explore new techniques of medical rehabilitation and enable FES knowledge to develop into useful products. We are pleased to provide systems that assist people in improving their lives after the devastating consequences of central nervous system trauma and paralysis.

For over three decades, researchers and clinicians of the Cleveland FES Center have impacted virtually every aspect of implanted functional electrical stimulation as leaders in the development of the science and technology of neural activation and its clinical application. We also support and maintain a comprehensive FES Information Center for dissemination of information on FES and clinical FES programs.

Core funds are provided by a Center of Excellence award from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The core support provides infrastructure services that are both unique and critical to the continued success of our program. The Center catalyzes both fundamental discovery and clinical research activities, supports the operational elements necessary to provide a seamless transition of new technology and knowledge into clinical practice, and insures that knowledge is accurately and promptly disseminated.

The Center provides an environment for the professional growth and development of investigators, and draws new scientists and clinicians into rehabilitation research. It provides mentoring by skilled and experienced senior scientists and clinicians who serve as effective role models and who assist in the development of professional careers through their counseling, encouragement, and ongoing review. This year, the recruitment of one new investigator in the area of cortical control, and another in the field of implantable systems and electrode technology expanded the expertise of the Center. Two clinicians secured release time from their home institutions to pursue research interests related to Center activities. The Cleveland VAMC also recruited two physician-investigators to the spinal cord injury unit and one to the neurology service. Identification of space for greater integration of administrative and research functions at the Cleveland VAMC, and implementation of a high-speed computer link between VA research offices and CWRU allow the integration of innovative research and outstanding care.