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Xiaodan Zou is a pioneering researcher in neural engineering and brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), with a focus on restoring mobility to individuals with severe motor impairments. Their most-cited work, "Independent Mobility Achieved through a Wireless Brain-Machine Interface" (2016, 55 citations), demonstrates a breakthrough in assistive technology: enabling two macaques with tetraplegia to wirelessly control a robotic platform, granting them independent movement for the first time. This study highlights Zou’s key contributions to developing wireless, integrated neural systems that bypass physical limitations, offering a path toward practical, real-world BMIs for human patients. By combining neural decoding, wireless communication, and robotics, Zou addresses a critical gap in assistive technology—the loss of autonomous mobility. Their work has been recognized for its translational potential, bridging animal models and human applications. With a citation count reflecting growing influence, Zou’s research continues to inspire advances in neuroprosthetics and rehabilitation engineering, making them a notable figure in the quest to restore independence to those with paralysis.