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Scott Lempka

Associate Professor

MM Biomedical Engineering - Medical School

Orcid identifier0000-0003-0964-311X
  • Associate Professor
    MM Biomedical Engineering - Medical School
  • Center Member
    Biosciences Initiative
  • Center Member
    Biointerfaces Institute
  • Associate Professor
    Anesthesiology
  • 734-764-2401 (Work)
  • University of Michigan Medical School, Biomedical Engineering, 2800 Plymouth Road, 14-184, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-2800, United States

BIO

I am a biomedical engineer with expertise in the theoretical and experimental evaluation of neural stimulation technologies. I am the Principal Investigator of the Neuromodulation Laboratory in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan. I am also the Director of Neuromodulation in the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center. Our group’s research focuses on the theoretical and clinical characterization of neurostimulation technologies, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS), for chronic pain management. We have developed sophisticated computational models to investigate the physiological effects and corresponding mechanisms of action of these neurostimulation technologies.

Electrical stimulation therapies, such as SCS, represent nonpharmacologic treatment options for pain management and a multi-billion dollar per year medical device market. Although these technologies have existed for decades and are currently used to treat thousands of patients a year, some patients respond remarkably well to these therapies, while other patients fail to achieve sufficient pain relief. The reasons behind these mixed outcomes are unknown. Therefore, we implement a patient-specific approach that integrates detailed clinical mechanistic testing with computational models of SCS. We believe that this systematic approach will improve our understanding of the mechanisms of action of SCS and other neurostimulation therapies and help explain why they work in some patients but not others. We also expect that the knowledge gained from this type of approach will help improve patient selection and several aspects of these neurostimulation technologies (e.g., stimulation parameters, lead design).

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN APPOINTMENTS

  • Associate Professor
    MM Biomedical Engineering - Medical School
  • Center Member
    Biosciences Initiative
  • Center Member
    Biointerfaces Institute
  • Associate Professor
    Anesthesiology

DEGREES

  • BS
    Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, United States1 Aug 2000 - 1 May 2004
  • PhD
    Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States1 Jan 2008 - 1 May 2010
  • MS
    Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States1 Aug 2004 - 1 Dec 2007

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Cleveland Clinic, Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland, United States
  • Research Fellow
    Cleveland Clinic, Center for Neurological Restoration, Cleveland, United States

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