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Advanced Platform Technology Center

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Awards/Grants

Paul D. Marasco, Ph.D.
Investigator

 

  1. VA RR&D Career Development Award, Level-2 No. A7253W. "Proprioception in Rat Cortex to Examine Sensory Feedback for Prosthetics." Role: Principal Investigator (2010-2013)
    The goal of this project is to develop a rat model to investigate how kinesthesia (sense of limb movement) is organized in the brain with respect to the topography of limb joints.  This model will then be used to begin examining potential avenues for the implementation of stimultion stragegies to provide sensation of limb movement for prosthetic devices through the peripheral nerves of human amputees.


     

  2. VA RR&D Merit Review Award "Novel modalities for assessing the cortical tissue-electrode interface." Role: Co-Investigator (2010-2013)

    The purpose of this project is to develop a temporal and spatial understanding of the role of activated microglial and macrophage cells in neurodegeneration at the microelectrode-cortical tissue interface. This study will deliver a cell-specific viral vector to selectively ablate these cells and controlled time intervals. Initial efforts will focus on the immunohistochemical analysis of the tissue, and pilot studies of the effects on chronic neural recording stability.



  3. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR), Mary E. Switzer Merit Fellowship "An investigation of percepts to touch following integration of physiologically relevant sensory feedback with artificial limbs." Role: Principal Investigator (2010)

    The goal of this project is to learn about the qualities of the redirected sensation and how it may be used most effectively as a touch interface for integration with a prosthetic limb. This will help to furnish information to make more functional prosthetic devices for amputees while also providing insight into scientific questions about how the brain organizes and adapts to the restoration of sensory input from severed limb nerves following an amputation.



  4. Advanced Platform Technology Center research support award (2009)


  5. NICHD NO1-HD-5-3402 HHSN27500503402C "Hyper-Reinnervation to Improve Myoelectric Prosthesis Control in Shoulder Disarticulation." Role: Co-Investigator (2006-2009)

    Targeted reinnervation is proving to be an important advancement for increasing the function of people with amputations. It raises many questions about human motor control and cutaneous sensory feedback modulation. At the same time it could be a unique and important tool or model for studying neural plasticity and cutaneous reinnervation. We propose focusing on better understanding Targeted Sensory Reinnervation. TSR provides an intriguing array of sensations. However, the mechanisms that are mediating the progression of afferents to the skin and the reinnervation or regeneration of the sensory end-organs are not yet understood. We also propose studying neural plasticity with the unique model of targeted reinnervation with studies in animals and in humans who have had the targeted reinnervation procedure. These experiments will have strong synergy to answer intriguing questions about both the peripheral and central nervous plasticity; they address issues of end organ reinnervation, and cortical organization. They will also help us improve the techniques so we may better help people who have suffered limb loss.

 

 

 

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