Prof. Todd Kuiken ( https://www.sralab.org/researchers/todd-kuiken-md-phd ) developed Targeted Muscle Reinnervation ( TMR ( https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/183371 ) ) – a surgical method to rewire the nervous system of people with amputations to better interface with prosthetic limbs. He is the Emeritus Director of the Regenstein Foundation Center for Bionic Medicine ( https://www.sralab.org/research/labs/bionic-medicine ) at the Sherly Ryan AbilityLab ( https://www.sralab.org/ ) and an Emeritus Professor at Northwestern University ( https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.html?xid=12036 ). In addition to his contributions to the treatment of amputees, we talked about how great multidisciplinary medical and engineering teams can be created and the importance of having a clear direction. He also shared some insights on one of the hardest aspects of research - how to decide when to terminate projects and reject bad ideas, and we wrapped up with advices for students. Interview by Dr. Max Ortiz Catalan, Ph.D. ( http://www.chalmers.se/en/staff/Pages/max-jair-ortiz-catalan.aspx ) , Bionics Professor and Director of the Center for Bionics and Pain Research ( https://cbpr.se/ ) (Social media: FB ( https://www.facebook.com/CBPR.se ) , TW ( https://twitter.com/CBPRse ) , IG ( https://www.instagram.com/cbpr.se ) , and LI ( https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbprse ) ). *Episode timestamps* (00:00) Coming up… (01:08) Introduction (05:22) Career path (07:02) Path leading to Targeted Muscle Reinnervation ( TMR ( https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/183371 ) ) (09:16) The Center for Bionic Medicine (CBM) at RIC (10:32) The Shirley Ryan Ability Lab ( https://www.sralab.org/ ) (11:56) Brining engineers and physicians together (13:43) Working with different professions (16:00) Targeted Muscle Innervation (TMR) (19:00) Mathematical algorithms for decoding motor volition (21:10) Route to TMR (24:00) Dissemination of TMR (24:39) TMR for Pain (26:40) Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interfaces ( RPNIs ( https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/12/533/eaay2857.abstract ) ) (28:00) TMR to treat neuroma pain ( Ann Surg ( https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/fulltext/2019/08000/targeted_muscle_reinnervation_treats_neuroma_and.10.aspx ) ) (32:26) Neuroma Pain Vs Phantom Limb Pain ( https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2018.00748/full ) (34:37) TMR’s success rate (36:00) Targeted Sensory Reinnervation ( TSR ( https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)60193-7/fulltext ) ) (39:00) TMR as a standard of care (40:35) Prof. Kuiken’s contribution to the field (41:20) Further surgical modification for machine interfacing (43:20) Osseointegration (45:02) Myoelectric pattern recognition (45:30) The relation between academy and industry (48:40) Termination of "bad" ideas (51:34) Using magnets to control wrist rotation (43:40) Using magnets for dexterous control ( Myokenetic ( https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-17464-1 ) ) (54:57) Neuromusculoskeletal prostheses ( https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-17464-1 ) (56:20) Future of artificial limbs (57:40) Wireless implantable electrodes (59:23) Advice to students