News

Neuromodulation Research Center (NMRC) members were at the Minnesota State Fair on September 4, 2016 to inform the public about deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy for movement disorders and highlight the clinical DBS program and translational neuromodulation research being done at the University of Minnesota.

The NMRC group created a demo to educate people about DBS, with an example DBS device, a model brain, and a user interface that enabled visitors to interact with the demo and change DBS settings to "treat" various movement disorders. 

They also represented MnDRIVE, which is an ongoing partnership between the University and the state of Minnesota that drives high-impact research and discovery in the field of neuromodulation.

NMRC is directed by Dr. Jerrold Vitek and focuses on the medical and surgical treatment of movement disorders.

Once dragged down by the physical and emotional implications of the disease, man now has a brighter outlook on life.

“After the surgery, I felt strong enough that I actually went out and got a part-time job,” he says. “I do a lot of walking and physical exercise that I’m sure I never could have done without the surgery.”

Read the Full Article by Nicole Endres

U scientists are gaining ground on Parkinson's disease on multiple fronts.

 

“Parkinson’s patients are a bit like snowflakes,” says Jerrold Vitek, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Department of Neurology and director of the University’s Neuromodulation Research Center. “No two are alike. The symptoms can vary greatly from one patient to another — as can the effectiveness of the treatments available to them.”

So it only makes sense that researchers are pursuing Parkinson’s on many fronts. At the University of Minnesota, experts in neuroscience, magnetic resonance imaging, sleep science, and drug development are among the cadre of scientists striving to enhance the overall understanding of Parkinson’s, develop more effective treatments, and contribute to the development of a cure. 

Read the Medical School Bulletin

U scientists explore freezing of gait, a debilitating complication of Parkinson’s disease, and actions that can get patients moving again.

_{The University’s Colum MacKinnon, Ph.D. (center), with research partners Jackie Vachon, M.S., and Chiahao Lu, Ph.D., record muscle and brain activity in their lab. They hope to learn what’s going on in the brains of people who have Parkinson’s as they prepare to move and then actually move. (Photo by Scott Streble)}

Read the Full Article By Nicole Endres