gtxmedical
GTX medical was founded in December 2014, splitting off from the Swiss federal institute of technology Lausanne (EPFL) to specifically develop a new neurostimulation therapy.
We are based at the High-Tech Campus in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and at the Technical and Life Science Faculties of EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland. Both our sites are locations where world class research is developed, and we are proud to continue in this tradition.
Based on years of research by Professor Grégoire Courtine at EPFL CNP, we have developed an advanced therapy to help paraplegic people recover the strength and ability to once again use their legs. Using a targeted neuro-stimulation implant with real-time motion feedback, combined with bodyweight support assisting training tools, our technology has the potential to restore the function of the spinal cord and improve the rehabilitation of individuals with SCI. We call this approach Targeted Epidural Spinal Stimulation (TESS). The therapy allows remodeling of neural pathways, repairing the connection between brain, spine, and lower extremities – with the potential of improving other symptoms related to spinal cord injuries.
We are the only company worldwide to develop an implantable neural stimulation system to restore the ability of walking.
At GTX, our team of over 50 people work closely with our academic founders, along with 40 researchers and clinicians, based in both EPFL, and University Hospital Lausanne (CHUV).
Our company is led by CEO Sjaak Deckers, an entrepreneur with previous successful experience at Sapiens Steering Brain Stimulation, until its acquisition by Medtronic in 2014. Our Chief Science Officer is Grégoire Courtine, whose research makes the development of our neuro-stimulation implants possible.
EPFL and Courtine’s lab plan to start a new study in the second half of 2019, after the success of the previous study as published in Nature and Nature Neuroscience and to which GTX is associated. Our initial focus is on individuals with paraplegia with an incomplete SCI due to a lesion in the cervical or thoracic segments of the spinal cord – but we intend in the future to explore helping persons with more severe lesions, and other neurological disorders.
Besides our report to the research, we also need to provide a device to administer the stimulation. In tandem with Grégoire Courtine’s research, we are currently developing the Go-2 Targeted Epidural Spinal Stimulation (TESS) system to eventually provide hospitals and patients with the focused technology to aid rehabilitation and improve lives. GTX medical are aiming to gain CE certification and FDA approval in the future.