Dr. Schiff, the Jerold B. Katz Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine
A casual conversation at a New York City karate dojo took an unexpected turn that resulted in an astonishing revelation. During pre-class discussion, Dr. Nicholas Schiff, a fellow 2nd degree black belt and one of America's leading experts on neurological disorders of consciousness, described his pioneering work with implantable neurological devices for patients with severe brain injuries.
Dr. Schiff, the Jerold B. Katz Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine, has authored more than 180 scientific publications and holds 24 patents in his field.
While companies like Neuralink explore brain-computer interfaces for enhancement, Dr. Schiff and his colleagues focus on an urgent humanitarian need: helping conscious but seemingly unresponsive patients reconnect with the world.
Diana Oehrli was moved to learn that many patients hear and understand language while remaining trapped in a non-communicative state. To her amazement, she discovered that this renowned scientist, with whom she regularly trained at the dojo, had co-authored important research on deep brain stimulation with one of the founding members of the Norman Prince Neurosciences Institute (NPNI) at Brown University Health. For Diana, whose family established NPNI and has supported innovative medical research including a psilocybin study and addiction recovery programs at the institute, BrainGate's multi-institutional collaborative approach resonated deeply with her commitment to transformative healthcare initiatives.
"I felt an ethical obligation to do what I could to enable this incredible project by Dr. Schiff and his colleagues at BrainGate," Diana Oehrli says. "If there exists a possibility of enabling families to communicate with their loved ones again, I can't just sit by and not act. We know that solitary confinement is the cruelest form of punishment. To be conscious yet unable to express thoughts or feelings must be the most devastating kind of existence imaginable. We must all unite to make this project work."
With support from the Gruben Charitable Foundation, BrainGate researchers at Brown University and Mass General Hospital (MGH) are collaborating with the Consortium for the Advanced Study of Brain Injury at Weill Cornell Medicine to conduct a study entitled “Intracortical Brain-Computer Interfaces for Persons with Cognitive Motor Dissociation.”
Dr. Schiff explains, “We are a group of uniquely experienced investigators in the field of implantable neurological devices and human disorders of consciousness. In the ongoing course of our work, results of our studies have exposed that there are large numbers of conscious patients who have very severe brain injuries and the potential to recover communication who are not being identified as conscious by their clinicians; such persons consequently remain in isolation and are not being helped. Work of the CASBI and MGH teams has developed diagnostic methods to identify these persons with Cognitive Motor Dissociation.”
The BrainGate group has developed the best-in-class high-performance human brain-computer interfaces for communication. However, these innovations have not yet been used to restore communication in patients with Cognitive Motor Dissociation. The new collaborative research study will investigate methods for implementing these novel tools.
We encourage you to learn more about this exciting work through BrainGate’s web site and the resources included below. We are certain that you will be moved by this innovative and compassionate work.
Liberty Science Center Genius Gala Honors Dr. Nicholas Schiff (Watch Video) - In this inspiring presentation, Dr. Schiff reveals groundbreaking findings about consciousness in brain-injured patients. He shares how his research has shown that 1 in 4 patients who appear unresponsive may actually be cognitively aware, and describes his pioneering use of deep brain stimulation as a "pacemaker for the brain." His innovative work has already helped patients regain communication abilities and even return to education.
The Terrifying Realization That an Unresponsive Patient Is Still in There - An in-depth look at how researchers are discovering consciousness in seemingly unresponsive patients.
Conscious and Trapped Inside, with Dr. Nicholas Schiff - This Is Your Brain podcast explores the latest research on disorders of consciousness and new hope for patients.
Large Study Confirms Significant Frequency of Undetected Responsiveness in Severe Brain Injury - New York Presbyterian's coverage of recent research findings that could change how we assess and treat brain-injured patients.
Dr. Schiff's work represents a paradigm shift in our understanding of consciousness after brain injury. His research not only challenges previous assumptions about unresponsive patients but offers real hope through innovative treatments like deep brain stimulation. With initial seed funding from the Gruben Charitable Foundation supporting the collaboration between BrainGate, Brown University, Mass General Hospital, and Weill Cornell Medicine, this vital work has begun. However, to fully realize the potential of this groundbreaking research and help more patients reconnect with their families, additional foundation support is crucial. Together, we can advance this work and create new possibilities for patients who have been silenced by severe brain injuries.