Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Stroke Recovery- David Lin, MD and Teresa Kimberley, PT, PhD

In this episode, we look at what happens after a stroke leaves someone with lasting arm and hand weakness, from the acute hospital stay through discharge. We discuss how tools like transcranial magnetic stimulation are used to predict recovery, and why the 90-day mark has become the field's convention. We also cover the VNS-REHAB pivotal trial: how pairing vagus nerve stimulation with repetitive movement taps into the brain's own plasticity systems, what the Fugl-Meyer measures, and why the two-year follow-up data suggest lasting benefits. We close with emerging approaches like cerebellar deep brain stimulation, thalamic and spinal cord stimulation, and repetitive TMS, the need for more access to high-intensity rehabilitation, and advice for trainees entering the field

Our guests for this episode are two leading figures in neurotechnology for stroke recovery. Dr. David Lin is a critical care neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, an Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the MGH NeuroRecovery Clinic. As principal investigator of the Laboratory for Translational NeuroRecovery, he studies the mechanisms of neural repair to guide recovery for patients after stroke and other acute brain injuries, using tools like TMS and brain-computer interfaces.

Dr. Teresa Kimberley is a Professor of Physical Therapy at the MGH Institute of Health Professions and Director of the Brain Recovery Lab. She is the senior author on both the pilot and pivotal VNS-REHAB trials and has led or contributed to over 15 randomized clinical trials investigating neuromodulation paired with rehabilitation.