BRAD 2026 Webinar

Restoring Sensation, Restoring Lives: How Animal Research Improves Life After Limb Amputation

Lee Fisher, PhD
Associate Professor & Assistant
Vice Chair for Research
Department of Physical Medicine
& Rehabilitation
University of Pittsburgh

More than 1.5 million people in the United States have undergone a leg amputation, and many experience poor balance, frequent falls, and chronic phantom limb pain due to the loss of sensation from the missing limb. Restoring this sensation is a major  challenge in improving mobility and quality of life. This talk will focus on how researchers are developing new neurotechnologies to restore sensation to people with limb amputation using spinal cord stimulation. By generating sensations that feel as if they come from the missing foot and linking them to sensors on a prosthetic limb, this approach aims to help the brain experience the prosthesis as an integral part of the body. The talk will also describe the translational pathway that combines pre-clinical animal research with human clinical trials. Animal studies are essential for understanding spinal cord anatomy, testing new electrode designs, and safely advancing these technologies. These studies highlight the critical role of animal research in developing therapies that improve balance, reduce phantom limb pain, and enhance quality of life after limb amputation.