Bourbeau, Dennis, PhD

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has a devastating impact on quality of life. Many investigators, clinicians, and especially people with SCI identify bladder, bowel, and sexual functions as important targets for therapies. However, there remains a lack of available approaches for restoring these functions.

To serve this unmet need, my research focuses on developing devices that use electrical stimulation to restore pelvic autonomic function lost to SCI or other neurological disorders. Such devices would provide alternatives to surgeries or drugs.

I am particularly interested in the mechanisms of sensory feedback to control these functions. I envision an interface with the nervous system that provides access for stimulating sensory neurons to activate or inhibit spinal reflexes to control autonomic functions. This strategy would take advantage of existing spinal reflex circuits that remain following SCI.