P. Hunter Peckham, the Donnell Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopaedics at Case Western Reserve University, was recently recognized by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) with the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished career in research on the use of functional electrical stimulation to restore hand and arm control in paralyzed individuals.
Peckham, recognized internationally for his spinal cord research, was instrumental in creating the Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Center, which studies the application of electrical currents to generate or suppress nerve activity.
As the center’s executive director, Peckham has built a model of successful research collaboration among scientists, engineers and clinicians from the Cleveland Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, Case Western Reserve and MetroHealth Medical Center.
Established in 1987, the Lifetime Achievement Award is presented periodically by ASIA to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the world of spinal cord injury care. Criteria include career dedication, peer recognition, professional competence and recognized achievement.
“When we started developing neural implants to restore movement and function for people who had sustained traumatic spinal cord injuries, it was a dream—a reality based dream, but still a dream,” Peckham said, while accepting the award at ASIA’s annual conference in Montreal this spring. “Now, some 30 years later, we are at the threshold of bringing this technology to the community.
“Two years ago, we formed a non-profit called the Institute for Functional Restoration to act as a surrogate company to bring a new platform technology through pivotal clinical trials and into a sustainability,” he continued. “We are near the launch of the clinical trials now, and our first product will be for trunk balance and hand and arm restoration. Our journey is not over yet, but we are moving forward along the path to provide sustainable access of implantable technologies that restore function for people with spinal cord injury.”
Peckham, who joined the Case Western Reserve faculty in 1972, holds eight patents, has authored hundreds of articles and was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering in 2002.
Peers and dozens of organizations throughout his career have honored Peckham. He was elected as a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, elected as a fellow of the American Spinal Injury Association, received special designation as Pioneer of the Neuroprothesis by the State of Ohio, received a special citation by the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, designated 2002 Engineer of the Year by Design News and received the Paul Magnuson Award from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
In 2009, Peckham received the Frank and Dorothy Humel Hovorka Prize from Case Western Reserve—awarded annually in recognition of exceptional achievements in teaching, research and scholarly service that have benefited the community, the nation and the world. He is a member of the Department of Veterans Affairs National Research Advisory Council and the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Bioimaging and Bioengineering National Advisory Council.
“Hunter’s career-spanning contributions to such critical, potentially life-changing research can’t be overstated,” said Case School of Engineering Dean Jeffrey L. Duerk. “To have a lifetime of important work so honored is not only well-deserved, but inspiring to Hunter, his team and, truly, the entire School of Engineering as the effort continues.”