Nearly five years ago, Rob Summers was left paralyzed below the chest after being struck by a vehicle.

Now, after participating in a study conducted by scientists at the University of Louisville, UCLA and the California Institute of Technology, he can stand up on his own and remain standing and bearing weight for up to four minutes at a time. With periodic assistance, he can stand for up to an hour.

Summers also voluntarily can move his toes, ankles, knees and hips on command. With harness support and therapist assistance, he can make repeated stepping motions on a treadmill.

These unprecedented results are the subject of an article published today in the British medical journal The Lancet.

“This is a breakthrough,” said Susan Harkema, PhD, lead author on the article and a faculty member in the UofL Department of Neurosurgery. “It opens up a huge opportunity to improve the daily functioning of (people with spinal cord injuries).

“But we have a long road ahead,” she said.

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