Vrabec, Tina, PhD

A biomedical engineer with extensive experience in electrical nerve stimulation, neuromodulation, and medical device development, Tina Vrabec, PhD, is an Associate Professor at MetroHealth System and an Investigator with the Cleveland FES Center.

Dr. Vrabec’s research focuses on developing innovative electrical nerve block technologies to address a range of clinical conditions. Her work combines engineering, neuroscience, computer modeling, and animal research to develop technologies that can ultimately be translated into clinical applications.

Dr. Vrabec’s studies have had a particular emphasis on blocking the sympathetic chain to reduce cardiac arrhythmias associated with heart failure and structural heart disease. Working in collaboration with researchers at the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, she has helped demonstrate the potential of neuromodulation to reduce ventricular tachyarrhythmias in large-animal models. Her current work is advancing these approaches toward closed-loop systems that can monitor cardiac biomarkers and automatically regulate neural activity.

A major component of Dr. Vrabec’s research is the development of novel electrodes and electrical waveforms that make nerve block safer, more selective, and more adaptable to different clinical applications. Her laboratory has developed high-capacitance electrode technologies and charge-balanced direct-current waveforms that address important limitations of conventional electrical nerve block. These technologies have been investigated for motor and sensory nerve block, pain management, and autonomic control, and have resulted in multiple patents and other intellectual property.

Dr. Vrabec also brings extensive engineering and industry experience to her research. Before becoming research faculty, she spent seven years working in industry on firmware development and industrial control systems at Bailey Controls and Rockwell Automation. Her background in software engineering and controller development informs her work developing computer-controlled neuromodulation systems and platforms for medical applications. She has extensive experience conducting acute and chronic studies in rat, dog, pig, and non-human primate models and works across multidisciplinary teams to move technologies from laboratory development toward clinical translation.

RESEARCH PROGRAMS

• Cardiac Neuromodulation and Arrhythmia Control: Development of electrical nerve block approaches targeting the sympathetic nervous system to reduce ventricular tachyarrhythmias associated with structural heart disease and heart failure. Dr. Vrabec’s research includes direct electrical block of the sympathetic chain and stellate ganglia, with the goal of providing a reversible alternative to surgical cardiac sympathetic denervation.
• Closed-Loop Neuromodulation: Development of closed-loop systems that combine electrical nerve block with physiological and biochemical sensing to automatically regulate cardiac function. Current work includes monitoring cardiac biomarkers such as norepinephrine and using these signals to control neuromodulation.
• Direct-Current Nerve Block: Development of direct-current electrical nerve block technologies designed to provide effective neural blockade without the onset activity associated with conventional kilohertz-frequency alternating-current nerve block. Her work encompasses novel waveforms, electrode materials, and stimulation strategies.
• Novel Electrode Technologies: Development and validation of high-capacitance electrode materials—including platinum black, iridium oxide, and carbon-based electrodes—and specialized electrode configurations for safe delivery of direct-current nerve block.
• Minimally Invasive Neuromodulation: Investigation of transcutaneous and percutaneous direct-current nerve block approaches that can provide less invasive alternatives to implanted cuff electrodes. These approaches have been evaluated in rat and non-human primate models.
• Sensory Nerve Block and Pain Management: Development of electrical nerve block approaches for reducing pain and other sensory hyperactivity, including technologies being investigated for postoperative pain relief.
• Neuromodulation Platforms and Control Systems: Development of open-source and computer-controlled platforms to facilitate research and development of neuromodulation technologies. Dr. Vrabec served as a principal investigator on the SPARC HORNET grant at Case Western Reserve University and helped develop an implantable nerve-block module for chronic animal studies.

MAJOR PROJECTS & FUNDING

• Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Block for Arrhythmia Control: Dr. Vrabec has collaborated with the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center for more than a decade on the development of electrical nerve block approaches targeting the sympathetic nervous system to mitigate cardiac arrhythmias. This collaboration has resulted in multiple funded projects and high-profile publications.
• SPARC HORNET Grant: Dr. Vrabec served as a principal investigator on the SPARC HORNET grant at Case Western Reserve University, focused on development of an open-source platform for neuromodulation. As part of the project, her team worked with Carroll Biomedical to develop an implantable nerve-block module for chronic animal testing.
• Closed-Loop Cardiac Neuromodulation: Current research is applying electrical nerve block in a closed-loop system to regulate cardiac biomarkers, including norepinephrine, using novel biosensors. The work is aimed at developing more precise and responsive approaches to controlling cardiac sympathetic activity.
• Case-Coulter Translational Partnership: Funding from the Case-Coulter Translational Partnership supported development of direct-current sensory nerve block technology for postoperative pain relief. The project led to improvements in device design that enabled chronic animal implantation and contributed to additional patents.
• Industry-Sponsored Nerve Block Research: Several sensory nerve block technologies were developed through a sponsored research agreement with Halyard Health, supporting development of approaches for pain relief and subsequent translational research.
• Bioelectronic Block of the Stellate Ganglia: Recent research has demonstrated that bioelectronic block of the stellate ganglia can mitigate heterogeneous release of catecholamines and neuropeptide Y in an infarcted pig heart, providing further evidence for the potential of targeted neuromodulation in cardiac disease.
• Intellectual Property and Technology Development: Dr. Vrabec has consistently generated intellectual property throughout her industry and academic career. Her research has resulted in multiple patents involving nerve-block electrode designs, electrochemistry, and electrical waveforms.

HONORS & RECOGNITION

• • Senior Member, National Academy of Inventors, 2023
  • Chair Award for Contributions in Research, MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio, 2023
  • Chair Award for Contributions in Research, MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio, 2021
  • Chair Award for Contributions in Research, MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute of Ohio, 2020