From thought to motion: Inside the Brain-Spine Digital Bridge

The Brain-Spine Digital Bridge is redefining the future of paralysis treatment and has recently drawn global attention for its potential to restore mobility in individuals with severe spinal cord injuries and stroke.

Led by Professors Jocelyne Bloch, neurosurgeon at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), and Grégoire Courtine, neuroscientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), the Brain-Spine Digital Bridge is a flagship project of the Lighthouse Partnership—a Wyss Center initiative advancing AI-guided neuromodulation.

This breakthrough innovation combines implantable brain-computer interfaces with epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. A wireless digital link is established by decoding movement intentions from brain activity and translating those signals into precise spinal stimulation. This allows individuals with complete paralysis to regain voluntary control of their limbs—such as standing, walking, and even using their hands—simply by thinking about the movement.

The technology has already demonstrated life-changing outcomes in early clinical trials, as highlighted in a recent feature on CBS’s 60 MINUTES.

This research builds on years of interdisciplinary collaboration among teams at NeuroRestore, CHUV, EPFL, ONWARD Medical, and the Campus Biotech ecosystem in Geneva.