Marco Capogrosso, PhD

In 2024, Dr. Capogrosso reported the initial results of the first-in-human clinical trial testing the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to restore arm and hand function in people with chronic stroke that was approved by the University of Pittsburgh IRB (NCT04512690). This trial is performed in collaboration with Peter Gerzten, MD, and Robert Friedlander, MD, from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurological Surgery; Elvira Pirondini, PhD, and Lee Fisher, PhD, from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; George F. Wittenberg, MD, PhD, from the University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology; Douglas J. Weber, PhD, from Carnegie Mellon University; and John W. Krakauer, MD, from Johns Hopkins University. 

The study’s hypothesis is that SCS can support residual motor function in people with upper limb paralysis in consequence of stroke and significantly improve motor control. Dr. Capogrosso and his fellow researchers are now close to completing the first part of the study in seven subjects and preparing to transition to the new phase of the study. They have observed unexpectedly large effect sizes that substantially improved strength, motor control and daily-life abilities of people with stroke. The results of this work were published in the important journal Nature Medicine. Dr. Capogrosso believes that data shows that their technology has the potential of becoming the first effective therapy for permanent post-stroke upper limb hemiparesis. This work has received worldwide media coverage including the BBC and the New York Times.

Finally, Dr. Capogrosso is continuing a clinical trial to explore the feasibility of using SCS to treat motor deficits and slow disease progress in people with spinal muscular atrophy (NCT05430113), a genetic disease that progressively destroys spinal motoneurons leading to paralysis. This study is supported by the venture branch of Roche: Genentech.