Innovations in Neuromodulation: Translating Research to Clinical Practice in Neurorehabilitation

Friday, February 20, 2026

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM AST

Location: 209 ABC

Course Director(s)

Gerard E. Francisco, MD (he/him/his)

Professor and Chairman
McGovern Medical School/UT Health Houston

Speaker(s)

Sheng Li, MD, PhD (he/him/his)

Professor of PM&R
University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston
Argyrios Stampas, MD, MS (he/him/his)

Professor/Spinal Cord Injury Medicine Research Director
UTHealth at Houston McGovern Medical School
Radha Korupolu, MD, MS (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UTHealth, Houston, Texas, USA

Moderator(s)

Michael Nguyen, MD, MPH (he/him/his)

Assistant Professor
UTHealth Houston

This session showcases cutting-edge neuromodulation approaches aimed at improving function, reducing symptoms, and enhancing quality of life for individuals with neurological conditions. Presentations will cover novel interventions including tibial nerve stimulation for replacing overactive bladder medications in spinal cord injury (SCI), BreEStim for SCI-related neuropathic pain, and paired transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) with rehabilitation to promote upper extremity recovery after SCI. The session will also explore lessons learned from implementing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in stroke rehabilitation, addressing both clinical efficacy and real-world integration challenges. Attendees will gain insights into the latest research, clinical trial methods, and strategies for translating evidence-based neuromodulation techniques into practice.