Brose, Steven, DO

My primary research interest is in the application of functional electrical stimulation (FES) to manage pelvic dysfunction in persons with spinal cord injury, comprising neurogenic bladder, neurogenic bowel and erectile dysfunction.

Our goal is to understand the complex interactions involved in the systems-level neural organization and control of bladder and urethral function. We use this information to develop neural prostheses or rehabilitative techniques that interface with the nervous system and restore genito-urinary function at the earliest opportunity.

Much of my clinical efforts are also devoted to treatment of these problems; I have been serving as the Chief of Spinal Cord Injury at the Syracuse VA Medical Center since 2017. I have been working with Dr. Gustafson & Dr. Bourbeau on neural prosthetic solutions to spinal cord injury related neurogenic bladder since June of 2010.

Previous studies have evaluated the use of genital nerve stimulation to inhibit bladder hyperreflexia in persons with SCI, helping to increase the bladder capacity and prevent urinary incontinence. We have also evaluated electrical high frequency block to inhibit the pudendal nerve, assisting with emptying the bladder.

Currently we are studying the use of electrical rectal stimulation to promote bowel emptying after spinal cord injury. We are also studying the use of a controllable wearable exoskeleton to stretch the leg on demand as a regimen for people with spasticity.

RESEARCH PROGRAMS

• Intracortical control of FES-restored arm and hand function in people with SCI
• Chronic Electrical Stimulation to Reduce Bladder Hyperreflexia after SCI
• High Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation to Restore Cough
• Controller Development for Upper Limb Movement with FES
• Pudendal Nerve Block Neural Prosthesis
• Producing micturition by combined afferent and efferent electrical stimulation
• Robotic Exoskeletons for limb stretching of hospitalized patients, to prevent contracture and manage spasticity