C.K. Franz, M.D., Ph.D.
@ColinFranzMDphd
Neuromuscular Medicine certified Physiatrist and Scientist. Focused on neurotrauma, nerve degeneration & regeneration. Born 🇨🇦 & Living 🇺🇲.
Heading back to @AbilityLab @NorthwesternPMR after a wonderful visit to @DalhousieU. Thanks to my hosts in #Physiatry @DalMedSchool for organizing a wonderful research day, and thanks to @BRCHFX for the cool blue hat!

2 new papers from our team related to complex nerve injury care! 1️⃣ Double supinator branch transfer in SCI & brachial plexus injury (Texakalidis et al. Oper Neurosurg. 2025. 10.1227/ons.0000000000001670) &2️⃣ Nerve injury recovery similar in COVID-19 vs non-COVID…

What a pleasure to hear a chance to talk with the next generation of #Physiatry. Thanks to the @AAPhysiatrists in partnership with @AANEMorg for hosting!
📣Shoutout to @AANEMorg and @ColinFranzMDphd for joining our Intro to #PMR webinar series last week and chatting with students about #NeuromuscularMedicine and #ElectrodiagnosticMedicine. 👏Thank you for helping the new generation of #physiatists expand their knowledge
Despite recent challenges, our work remains active thanks to our support from @AbilityLab @NorthwesternPMR @NMNeurology @AmNmFoundation and many others!
Check out our perspective article on human spinal cord organoids for studying neurotraumatic injuries just published in Neural Regeneration Research led by Dr. Maria Jose Quezada, DPT, PhD (candidate): journals.lww.com/nrronline/cita…
New paper alert! We demonstrated a combination of 4-AP and Hebbian stimulation promote motor recovery and shorten the period of reaching minimal clinically important difference in walking in humans with chronic spinal cord injury. @MonicaPerezPhD @AbilityLab @NorthwesternPMR
In an RCT, Chen et al. obtain evidence that the potassium blocker 4-AP may potentiate and accelerate the effects of Hebbian stimulation on motor recovery in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. tinyurl.com/h4fna84a
Check out our perspective article on human spinal cord organoids for studying neurotraumatic injuries just published in Neural Regeneration Research led by Dr. Maria Jose Quezada, DPT, PhD (candidate): journals.lww.com/nrronline/cita…

#NewPublication: “Multipoint Stimulation Motor Unit Number Estimation of the Extensor Indicis and Anconeus After Spinal Cord Injury” Co-authored by Adenike A. Adewuyi, MD, and Colin K. Franz, MD (@ColinFranzMDphd) Study goal: To evaluate the health of infralesional lower motor…
This review synthesizes the outcomes of finger and thumb flexion after various nerve transfers to the anterior interosseous nerve. @Pavlostex nature.com/articles/s4139…
To help patients find the best pulmonary care, we encourage you to vote in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals expert opinion survey on Doximity. Please consider casting your vote for the Canning Thoracic Institute Pulmonology & Lung Surgery Program at Northwestern…
#NewPublication: “Multipoint Stimulation Motor Unit Number Estimation of the Extensor Indicis and Anconeus After Spinal Cord Injury” Co-authored by Adenike A. Adewuyi, MD, and Colin K. Franz, MD (@ColinFranzMDphd) Study goal: To evaluate the health of infralesional lower motor…
#NewPublication: “Multipoint Stimulation Motor Unit Number Estimation of the Extensor Indicis and Anconeus After Spinal Cord Injury” Co-authored by Adenike A. Adewuyi, MD, and Colin K. Franz, MD (@ColinFranzMDphd) Study goal: To evaluate the health of infralesional lower motor…
We are hiring a PhD student and a lab technician to work on stem cell-based humanized models of neural development and disease. Apply here if you are interested: PhD student position: urldefense.com/v3/__https://i…$ Lab tech position: urldefense.com/v3/__https://i…$
Wireless Bioresorbable Dual Stimulator Boosts Nerve Regeneration bioengineer.org/wireless-biore… #Regeneration #Rehabilitation #Engineering #Collaboration with my colleague @ProfJohnARogers and others from @NU_QSIB @NorthwesternEng @AbilityLab @NorthwesternPMR

✨ Last week we celebrated Jordan Walters as she heads to @ucsdneurodept for her PhD. Backbone of the lab, mature beyond her years, always brought determination and skill. 4 publications, including first authorships in @MuscleAndNerve and @NatureComms. We’ll miss her @AbilityLab…


Pleased to share our latest research @AbilityLab @NorthwesternPMR @NMNeurology in collaboration with my colleague @ProfJohnARogers @NU_QSIB: Bioresorbable, wireless dual stimulator for peripheral nerve regeneration. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40404648/

Nothing makes me happier than seeing a #diaphragm that was paralyzed start to move again @AbilityLab @NorthwesternPMR @NMNeurology @NM_Lung. Worth working late for, right? @JustinFiala @lbfwolfe
Lead author Dr. @HakYoung_Ahn Animal model: Jordan Walters (@ColinFranzMDphd lab, @AbilityLab) Modeling: Prof. @AvilaROAD (@RiceUniversity) Engineering: Prof. Yonggang Huang (@NorthwesternU) Neuro interface: Prof. Song Li (@UCLA)
Presented at #ASCO25: A 3-year structured exercise program after adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer improved disease-free and overall survival, physical functioning, and fitness, as compared with health education alone. Full CHALLENGE phase 3 trial results:…
Happy to announce that two papers from the group appeared in press today – one in @NatureComms and the other in @NeuroCellPress , links below. The first introduces a bioresorbable, wireless electrical stimulator to accelerate healing of damaged peripheral nerves – a temporary…