A young woman's journey from paralysis to medical research highlights the potential of Schwann cell therapy and the impact of clinical trials. Annalisa Heiss, who suffered a severe leg injury in a 2019 car accident, regained significant motor function through an innovative clinical trial at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her experience not only restored her mobility but also ignited a passion for medicine, leading her to participate in research at the same institution that facilitated her recovery.
Nerve Injury and Innovative Treatment
Following the accident, Heiss experienced significant impairment due to a transected femoral nerve, leading to partial paralysis in her quadriceps muscle. Traditional treatments proved insufficient, prompting her to enroll in a clinical trial led by Dr. Allan Levi at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. The trial involved injecting Heiss's own Schwann cells, along with a nerve autograft, to facilitate nerve regeneration.
"Annalisa had a lot of soft-tissue injury and was left partially paralyzed in the quadriceps muscle of one leg... Her nerve was fully transected, so the nerve ends couldn’t regrow together," explained Dr. Levi. The experimental treatment aimed to bridge the gap in the damaged nerve and promote regrowth of axons.
Recovery and Return of Motor Function
After the Schwann cell transplantation, Heiss began to experience motor improvement approximately 12 to 14 months post-repair. Over time, as the nerves regenerated, her motor function continued to improve. "One day, my motor function just came back without me really noticing it. Then I noticed my knee extension coming back. Most of my motor function returned after two years," Heiss noted.
Her recovery defied initial expectations, as she was warned that regaining motor function after such a severe nerve transection was unlikely. The success of the treatment not only restored her physical abilities but also sparked an interest in medicine and research.
From Patient to Researcher
Inspired by her experience, Heiss participated in the Henry G. Steinbrenner Scholars Program at The Miami Project. Under the mentorship of Dr. James Guest, she contributed to neuromodulation research focused on transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) for upper extremity movement in paralyzed individuals.
Her research involved measuring brain signals during tSCS paired with hand-grasping tasks. The results indicated that tSCS improved grasp coordination and enhanced brain signals, suggesting that the therapy's benefits extend beyond muscle stimulation to involve the brain itself.
"Her results confirmed that, during tSCS grasping, coordination was improved... and added the finding that brain signals during tSCS plus grasp were stronger than during grasp alone," said Dr. David McMillan, director of education and outreach with The Miami Project.
Heiss's journey exemplifies the potential of regenerative medicine and the profound impact of clinical research. Her experience has solidified her ambition to attend medical school and pursue a career in surgery, marking a remarkable transition from patient to researcher.
