Patricia E. Phelps
University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Irvine
Papers
2
Total Citations
137
H-Index
2
About
Patricia E. Phelps is a pioneering neuroscientist whose research focuses on spinal cord injury repair and the restoration of motor function. Her major contributions center on two transformative approaches: harnessing the regenerative potential of olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) and integrating robotics with neurobiology. In her highly cited 2011 study, she provided compelling evidence that OEG transplantation facilitates axonal regeneration after complete spinal cord transection, a breakthrough that has garnered 69 citations and inspired further cell-based therapies. Earlier, her 2002 work on using robotics to teach the spinal cord to walk (68 citations) demonstrated that robotic-assisted training can promote locomotor recovery, bridging engineering and neuroscience. Phelps’s research has profound implications for paralysis treatment, offering hope for functional restoration. Her achievements include advancing our understanding of neural plasticity and rehabilitation, making her a key figure in translational spinal cord research. For students and researchers, her work exemplifies how interdisciplinary strategies—combining cellular biology with robotics—can tackle one of medicine’s most daunting challenges.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Using robotics to teach the spinal cord to walk68 citations · 2002