TheVARR&DCenterforNeurorestorationandNeurotechnology(CfNN)attheProvidenceVAMedical Center(PVAMC)unifiesadistinguishedteamofscientists,engineersandcliniciansfromtheVA,Brown University,andaffiliatedhospitalstodevelopandtranslateneurotechnologiesanddevice-basedtherapies thatrestorefunctionforVeteranswithdisordersaffectingthenervoussystem.CfNN?sthreeFocusAreasare eachdedicatedtoperformingtherigorous,peer-reviewedsciencethatleadstonewdiagnosticand therapeuticstrategiesforVeteranswithspinalcordinjury,stroke,amyotrophiclateralsclerosis(ALS), epilepsy,limbloss,post-traumaticstressdisorder(PTSD),depression,chronicpain,andothernervous systemdiseasesorinjuries.CfNN?sthreeFocusAreasare:(1)RestoringCommunicationandMobility(2) RestoringAffectiveandCognitiveHealth,and(3)RestoringLimbFunction.TheFocusAreas?interdisciplinary researcheffortsaresupportedbythreeCoresprovidingessentialinfrastructuresupportandspecialized services:(A)NeuromodulationandNeuroimaging(B)Recording,Decoding,andComputational Neuroscience,and(C)Assessment,OutcomeMeasurement,andImplementation.CfNNresearchisfurther facilitatedbyadedicatedadministrativestaffwhosupportscientificproductivity,coordinatethesynergistic relationshipsbetweenCfNNanditsacademicandclinicalaffiliates,maintainclosecontactwithlocaland nationalVAofficials,andoptimizeourservicetoVeterans.CfNN?sresearchstrategymaximizesinteractions viacomplementaryexpertiseandresourcesamongitsFocusAreasandCores.Thisinturnsupportsahigh- impactresearchcommunityfocusedonapplicationofmedicaldevicestoneurologichealth,bothwithinthe VAandinthewiderregionalandnationalbrainsciencecommunity.Throughthisrenewal,overthenextfive yearsCfNNwillleverageandexpanditscollaborativeresearch,bothwithintheProvidenceVAMCand togetherwithotherVACenters,towardrehabilitationgoalsimportanttothelargenumberofaffected Veteransandtheirfamilies.Theseinclude:restoringarmandlegmovementforVeteranswithstroke,spinal cordinjury,oramputation;?improvingcommunicationforVeteranswithALS;?improvingtheunderstanding, earlydetection,andmanagementofseizures,and;?moresuccessfullytreatingVeteranswithPTSD, depression,obsessive-compulsivedisorder,orotherseverecognitiveoraffectivedisorders.CfNNalsoaims todevelopandvalidatetheoutcomesmeasuresneededforeffectiveclinicaltrialsofnewrestorative neurotechnologiesfortheseconditions.Inadditiontotheresearchofitscoreinvestigators,CfNNisdesigned tofacilitatethetrainingandresearchcareersofjuniorresearchersandtorecruitestablishedcliniciansand scientiststofocustheirresearcheffortsonimprovingrehabilitationforVeteranswithnervoussystemdisease orinjury.CfNNiscommittedtoprovidingseedfundingforpilotstudiestoenableaffiliatedinvestigatorsto launchpromisingresearchandcollectpreliminarydatatoinformandstrengthenlargerresearchprojects. ThroughitscloseassociationwithBrownUniversity,CfNNprovideseducationalopportunitiesto undergraduates,graduatestudents,neuropsychologyinterns,andpostdoctoralresearcherstolearnmore abouttheVA,inspiringthemtoshapetheircareerstowardnotonlygainingabetterunderstandingof fundamentalhumanneuroscience,buttowardusingthatknowledgetohelpdesign,test,anddeploynovel device-basedneurotherapeuticstosupportVeteransHealth.
Disorders of the brain and nervous system, including those resulting directly from injuries incurred during military service, are of immediate relevance to Veterans health. In part because of the complexity of the nervous system, people who have disorders such as stroke, spinal cord injury, limb loss, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, or chronic pain lack adequate rehabilitation therapies to regain their independence. Through rigorous translational and clinical research conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and clinicians, the VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology develops and tests novel device-based approaches to improving the health and lives of Veterans. An explicit goal of the Center is to translate neurotechnology and its applications into clinical practice in service to our Veterans and civilians throughout the US.
