Onward Medical Awarded $1.1M Grant from Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to Expand BCI Study

Onward Medical has received a grant from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to support expansion of its ongoing early feasibility study of using a brain-computer interface (BCI) to restore thought-driven use of hands and arms after spinal cord injury (SCI).
 
The company’s ARC-BCI system merges the investigational WIMAGINE BCI from CEA-Clinitec with investigational ARC-IM therapy—implanted targeted spinal cord stimulation. This forms a “DigitalBridge” that allows thought-driven restoration of movement.
 
WIMAGINE BCI is an epidural implants with seven years of human safety data. ARC-IM therapy has been applied in over 30 study participants. Onward is also investigating using ARC-BCI to address lower limb mobility challenges after SCI in a separate clinical study.
 
The ongoing early feasibility study is also supported by the European Innovation Council. The first study subject was implanted with ARC-BCI in August 2023.
 
The Reeve Foundation’s $1.1 million grant to study sponsor and ONWARD Medical research partner, .NeuroRestore, allows up to four additional participants to be implanted with the ARC-BCI system.
 
Earlier this year, Onward revealed it was accepted into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new Total Product Lifecycle Advisory Program (TAP) for the ARC-BCI platform. It was also granted breakthrough device status.
 
“While other companies are using BCI technology to interface with computers, ONWARD is leading the pursuit of BCI-augmented movement restoration,” said ONWARD Medical CEO Dave Marver. “We are grateful to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation for its support, which enables us to expand this important study.”
 
“This grant reflects our vision to facilitate rapid scientific advancement to address the unmet needs of individuals living with SCI,” added Marco Baptista, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. “We look forward to working with ONWARD Medical in learning more about the potential for BCI technology to meet those challenges.”

Read more about Onward and other “hot prospect” orthopedic companies here!