Matthias J. Krenn, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department:
SOM-Neurosurgery
Email:
mkrenn@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 364-3413
Biography
Dr. Matthias Krenn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. His research is centered on electrical neuromodulation to restore lower limb motor function in individuals with spinal cord injury. Currently, he focuses on transcutaneous posterior root stimulation, a novel approach enabling noninvasive, multi-segmental activation of the lumbosacral cord. This work advances the understanding of spinal motor control and enhances the field of electrical neuromodulation for treating paralysis and spasticity. Dr. Krenn earned his Doctoral degree in Biomedical Engineering from the Medical University of Vienna in 2015. His doctoral research aimed at maintaining mobility in older adults through neuromuscular electrical stimulation. As a Postdoc, he further developed advanced medical devices for individuals with spinal cord injury, focusing on electrical stimulation and biological signal recording. In 2017, Dr. Krenn joined the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson. Here, he continues to innovate neuromodulation interventions for patients with upper motoneuron disorders. His research has received multiple grants from private and federal funding organizations, supporting his investigation into electrical neuromodulation after spinal cord injury.
Education
| Medical University of Vienna, Austria, Postdoc, Neural Engineering | 2017 |
| Vienna University of Technology, Austria, Postdoc, Biomedical Engineering | 2016 |
| Medical University of Vienna, Austria, PhD, Doctoral Program of Applied Medical Science | 2015 |
| Vienna University of Technology, Austria, MS, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering | 2007 |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Re-certification, Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) Course - Refresher, Human Research Office UMMC | 09/2024 - 09/2027 |
| Certification, Working with the IACUC, Human Research Office UMMC | 07/2024 - 07/2027 |
| Certification, Working with Non-Human Primates in Research Settings, Human Research Office UMMC | 07/2024 - 07/2027 |
| Certification, Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) Course - VA Human Subjects Protection, VA Jackson, MS | 03/2023 - 03/2026 |
| Re-certification, Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) Course - Refresher, Human Research Office UMMC | 09/2021 - 09/2024 |
| Certification, Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) Course - Initial, Human Research Office UMMC | 06/2018 - 06/2021 |
Current Positions
| Senior Researcher | 04/2023 - Present |
| Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery | 07/2022 - Present |
| Research Scientist | 09/2021 - Present |
| Affiliate Scientist | 07/2020 - Present |
| Lecturer | 09/2015 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences | 07/2019 - 06/2022 |
| Instructor, University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences | 09/2017 - 06/2019 |
| Investigator, Methodist Rehabilitation Center | 09/2017 - 06/2020 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna | 03/2017 - 08/2017 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate, Vienna University of Technology | 06/2016 - 09/2016 |
| Lecturer, University of Applied Science Technikum Vienna | 09/2011 - 07/2017 |
| Research Assistant, Medical University of Vienna | 05/2007 - 09/2015 |
Sponsored Program Funding
| Extramural, Shared and distinct antispastic effects of electrical and pharmacological neuromodulation., Craig H. Neilsen Foundation | 12/2023 - 12/2024 |
| Intramural, Electrical neuromodulation for modifying spinal network involved in spasticity., Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research | 11/2022 - 11/2023 |
| Extramural, Enhancing nerve transfer surgery to restore hand and arm function in chronic tetraplegia., New York State Department of Health | 10/2022 - 09/2025 |
| Extramural, Transcutaneous spinal stimulation for reducing lower limb spasticity in chronic spinal cord injury: A cross-over study of immediate effects and outcomes of home-based therapy trials., Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation | 03/2022 - 02/2024 |
| Extramural, Anticipating efficacy of nerve transfer surgery using quantitative neurophysiology., Department of Defense, Spinal Cord Injury Research Program | 09/2021 - 09/2024 |
| Extramural, Defining the capacity of the lumbosacral network for neuromodulation in humans with spinal cord injury, Wings for Life - Spinal Cord Research Foundation | 07/2019 - 06/2022 |
| Extramural, Functional electrical stimulation and neuromodulation, MED-EL, Austria | 03/2017 - 08/2017 |
Publications
Patent | |
| Lindenthaler W, Ladurner M, Mayer W, Krenn MJ Eliciting swallowing using electrical stimulation applied via surface electrodes US20210138231A1, 2023 | 2021 |
Journal Article | |
| Krenn MJ, Perry BE, Chow JW, Tansey KE Using a robot-assisted gait orthosis to assess lower limb performance in neurorehabilitation. Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation. 2019; 55(1):51-54 | 2019 |
| Vargas-Luna JL, Guðfinnsdóttir HK, Magnúsdóttir G, Guðmundsdóttir V, Krenn M, Mayr W, Ludvigsdóttir GK, Helgason T Effects of sustained electrical stimulation on spasticity assessed by the pendulum test Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering. 2016; 2(1):405–407 | 2016 |
| Kneisz L, Schermann M, Unger E, Haller M, Krenn M, Mayr W. The short-term effects of antenna insulation thickness on path losses in wireless telemetry implants at microwave frequencies. European Journal of Translational Myology. 2013; 23:91–94 | 2013 |
Review Article | |
| Dimitrijevic MR, Krenn M, Mayr W, McKay B Human spinal cord motor control that is partially or completely disconnected from the brain. American Journal of Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration. 2016; 8:1–15 | 2016 |
Dissertation | |
| Krenn MJ Electrical stimulation training to improve neuromuscular performance in sedentary elderly. Doctoral thesis, Medical University of Vienna, Austria | 2015 |
Book Chapter | |
| Mayr W, Krenn M, Dimitrijevic MR (2017) Neuroprosthetic Advances. In: Arle JE, Shils JE (Eds). Innovative Neuromodulation. Elsevier Academic Press, 2017 | 2017 |
| Mayr W, Krenn M, Dimitrijevic MR. Motor Control of Human Spinal Cord Disconnected from the Brain and Under External Movement. Laczko J., Latash M. (eds) Progress in Motor Control. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Springer, Cham, 2016 | 2016 |
Presentations
| Poster Presentation, Exploring targeted stimulation of denervated muscles for prehabilitation of neurotization in a nonhuman primate model., Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting, Houston, TX | 09/2024 |
| Poster Presentation, Using electrical muscle stimulation for full activation of chronically denervated muscles in a non-human primate model, Massachusetts General Hospital, Neuroscience, Boston, MA | 09/2024 |
| Platform Presentations, Neuromodulation in spinal cord injury for understanding and treating spasticity., 61st International Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation Symposium and 61st Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium, New Orleans, LA | 04/2024 |
| Platform Presentations, Defining the capacity of the lumbosacral network for neuromodulation in humans with spinal cord injury., Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, New Orleans, LA | 02/2024 |
| Poster Presentation, Distinguishing reflex from non-reflex responses elicited by transcutaneous spinal stimulation targeting the lumbosacral cord., Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC | 11/2023 |
| Invited Symposia, Electrical stimulation of nerves and muscles., Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS | 10/2023 |
| Invited Symposia, Electrical stimulation for movement recovery., Millsaps College, Department of Chemistry, Jackson, MS | 10/2023 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Recent Advances in Care & Innovation, 2nd Annual Neurotrauma Symposium, Jackson, MS | 03/2023 |
| Poster Presentation, Capacity of the spinal network for neuromodulation during robot-guided stepping in humans with SCI., Society of Neuroscience, San Diego, CA | 11/2022 |
| Poster Presentation, Characterizing the pulse duration of transcutaneous spinal stimulation for evoking the lumbosacral posterior root reflexes., Society of Neuroscience, San Diego, CA | 11/2022 |
| Invited Symposia, Electrical neuromodulation to modify spinal motor output in humans after spinal cord injury., Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah Health, Virtual Presentation | 07/2022 |
| Invited Symposia, Can electrical stimulation control movement after spinal cord injury?, Millsaps College, Department of Chemistry, Jackson, MS | 10/2021 |
| Platform Presentations, Electrical neuromodulation to assess the lumbosacral spinal cord for movement recovery in humans with spinal cord injury., Annual Conference of the Mississippi Academy of Science, Biloxi, MS | 08/2021 |
| Platform Presentations, Neuromodulation of the lumbosacral spinal cord has immediate effects on motor functions in humans with spinal cord injury., International Conference on Neuroscience and Brain Disorders, Prague, Czechia | 06/2021 |
| Platform Presentations, Defining the capacity of the lumbosacral network for neuromodulation in humans with spinal cord injury., Wings for Life Scientific Meeting, Salzburg, Austria | 04/2021 |
| Invited Symposia, Neuromodulation for movement recovery after spinal cord injury., MGH Paralysis Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA | 03/2021 |
| Invited Symposia, Neuromodulation Symposium: Gait, Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Spinal Injury Association, Waikiki, HI, USA | 04/2019 |
| Platform Presentations, Using a robot-assisted gait orthosis to assess lower limb performance in neurorehabilitation., 35th Southern Biomedical Engineering Conference, Hattiesburg, MS, USA | 02/2019 |
| Platform Presentations, Spinal cord stimulation, a versatile tool for assessment and monitoring, modification of spasticity and augmentation of movement., World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic | 06/2018 |
| Platform Presentations, Spinal cord stimulation, a versatile tool for assessment and monitoring, modification of spasticity and augmentation of movement., World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Prague, Czech Republic | 06/2018 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation modifying neural circuits, assessment, and intervention., Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Spinal Injury Association, Rochester, MN | 05/2018 |
| Platform Presentations, Spinal cord stimulation: a versatile tool for assessment and intervention to modify spasticity and to augment movement., European Medical and Biological Engineering Conference, Tampere, Finland | 06/2017 |
| Invited Symposia, Electrical stimulation for intervention and assessment., University of Mississippi Medical Center, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, Jackson, MS | 02/2017 |
| Poster Presentation, Modification of central state of excitability of injured spinal cord by using sustained spinal reflex activity., Society of Neuroscience, San Diego, CA | 11/2016 |
| Poster Presentation, Patterns of spinal sensory motor outputs of the human lumbar spinal cord disconnected from brain control can be elicit by sensory inputs., Society of Neuroscience, San Diego, CA | 11/2016 |
| Platform Presentations, Sensory input with different rates of sustained electrical stimulation can modify motor output of the human lumbosacral spinal cord., 12th Vienna International Workshop on FES, Vienna, Austria | 09/2016 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Transcutaneous lumbar spinal cord stimulation for studies of sensory-motor integration mechanisms., 9th International Symposium on Experimental Spinal Cord Repair and Regeneration, Brescia, Italy | 12/2015 |
| Poster Presentation, Human lumbar cord reflex activity to sustained epidural electrical posterior roots stimulation motor behavior during absence and partial presence of brain motor control., Society of Neuroscience, Chicago, IL | 10/2015 |
| Platform Presentations, Variation of the stimulation site changes the excitation of the lumbosacral spinal reflexes., Progress in Motor Control X. Conference, Budapest, Hungary | 07/2015 |
| Poster Presentation, Altering spinal cord excitability by peripheral nerve stimulation., Society of Neuroscience, Washington, DC | 11/2014 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Electrophysiology of posterior roots-muscle reflex of the human lumbosacral cord., International Symposium on Spasticity and Neural Control of Movement, Ljubljana, Slovenia | 09/2014 |
| Platform Presentations, Design of a multi-site electrical stimulation system for transcutaneous lumbar posterior roots stimulation., 4th International Conference on Advancements of Medicine and Health Care through Technology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | 06/2014 |
| Poster Presentation, Selectivity of transcutaneous lumbar spinal cord stimulation for eliciting posterior root-muscle reflexes in humans., Society of Neuroscience, San Diego, CA | 11/2013 |
| Poster Presentation, Development of an electrode Array for transcutaneous stimulation of lumbar posterior roots., 6th International IEEE/EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering, San Diego, CA | 11/2013 |
| Invited Symposia, Lumbar posterior root electrical stimulation for motor control., Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC | 11/2011 |
| Platform Presentations, Dynamic properties of selective evoked contractions of the quadriceps muscle at different stimulation levels, Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Vienna, Austria | 08/2011 |
| Poster Presentation, Development of a facial video recording system for magnetic resonance scanners., 3-Länder Tagung Biomedizinische Technik, Rostock-Warnemuende, Germany | 10/2010 |
| Platform Presentations, Estimating dynamic properties of denervated muscles with the pendulum test., 2nd International Conference on Advancements of Medicine and Health Care through Technology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania | 09/2009 |
| Poster Presentation, Analysis of dynamic muscle properties of FES-activated denervated m. quadriceps., 14th International Congress of the World Muscle Society, Geneva, Switzerland | 09/2009 |
| Poster Presentation, The relationship between electrical stimulus and viscoelastic parameters of the denervated anterior thigh muscles., 2nd International Conference on Complex Medical Engineering, Phoenix, AZ | 04/2009 |
| Platform Presentations, Pendulum test: measurement equipment for functional assessment of denervated muscles., 3. Wiener Biomaterialsymposium, Vienna, Austria | 11/2008 |
| Platform Presentations, Kontraktionseigendynamik des FES-aktivierten Quadrizeps Muskels bei höheren Stimulationsfrequenzen., OeGBMT Annual Meeting, Krems, Austria | 09/2007 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Early Career Investigator Award, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2023 |
| Apple Award for excellence in publishing in spinal cord injury rehabilitation, American Spinal Injury Association | 2023 |
| Excellence in Research Award in Silver, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2022 |
| Postdoc Award, Neuro Research Day, University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2017 |
| European Analog Design Contest (Finalist), Texas Instruments, Inc. | 2012 |
| Fellowship Award, World Muscle Society | 2009 |
Professional Membership and Service
| American Spinal Injury Association, Board Member of Engineering and Data Science Committee | 2023 - Present |
| Society for the Neural Control of Movement, Member | 2020 |
| Committee of the European Medical and Biological Engineering Conference, Member | 2015 - Present |
| Society of Neuroscience, Member | 2013 - Present |
| Austrian Society of Biomedical Engineering, Member, Finance auditor (2016 - 2019) | 2009 - Present |
| International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society, Member | 2008 - 2013 |
Committee Service
| Program in Neuroscience Admissions Committee, Member | 2023 - Present |
| American Spinal Injury Association, Engineering and Data Science Committee, Member | 2023 - Present |
| Program Committee, 14th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation, Austria, Member | 2022 - 2022 |
| Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences Web Content Committee, Member | 2020 - 2022 |
| Program Committee, 13th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation, Austria, Member | 2019 - 2019 |
| Program Committee, 12th Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation, Austria, Member | 2016 - 2016 |
| Program Committee, International Conference on Advancements of Medicine and Health Care through Technology, Romania, Member | 2014 - 2014 |
Community Service
| Mosaic Summer Enrichment Program, UMMC, Facilitator | 07/2023 - 07/2023 |
| Mosaic Summer Enrichment Program, UMMC, Facilitator | 06/2023 - 06/2023 |
| Discovery U High School Program, UMMC, Facilitator | 03/2023 - 05/2023 |
| Mosaic Summer Enrichment Program, UMMC, Facilitator | 06/2022 - 06/2022 |
Other Service
| NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Special Emphasis Panel, Clinical Trials in Neurology (ZNS1 SRB-G-66) | 07/2024 - 07/2024 |
| Frontiers in Medical Engineering Technologies | 11/2023 - Present |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America, Clinical Research Board, Washington, DC, Board Member | 09/2023 - 09/2023 |
| NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Special Emphasis Panel, Clinical Trials in Neurology (ZNS1 SRB-G-62), Board Member | 08/2023 - 08/2023 |
| Frontiers in Neurorehabilitation | 09/2022 - Present |
| Frontiers in Clinical Engineering | 07/2022 - Present |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America, Clinical Research Board, Washington, DC, Board Member | 09/2021 - 09/2021 |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America, Clinical Research Board, Washington, DC, Board Member | 08/2020 - 08/2020 |
| Frontiers in Neuroprosthetics | 11/2019 - Present |
| Functional electrical stimulation of denervated muscles: an essential therapeutic option after peripheral nerve lesion. 12th Vienna Int. Workshop on FES, Austria | 09/2016 - 09/2016 |
| Non-invasive posterior root stimulation for assessment and modulation of spasticity and motor control. 12th Vienna Int. Workshop on FES, Austria | 09/2016 - 09/2016 |
| Application workshops of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation in individuals with intact CNS and upper motor neuron dysfunction. International Symposium on Spasticity and Neural Control of Movement, Slovenia | 09/2014 - 09/2014 |
| Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation and its applications in neurophysiological studies and neuromodulation interventions. 11th Vienna Int. Workshop on FES, Austria | 09/2013 - 09/2013 |
| The Open Biomedical Engineering Journal | |
| PLOS One | |
| Physiological Reports | |
| Physical Therapy | |
| PeerJ | |
| Muscle and Nerve | |
| Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing | |
| Mayo Clinic Proceedings | |
| Journal of Visualized Experiments | |
| Journal of Neurotrauma | |
| Journal of Neurophysiology | |
| HardwareX | |
| iScience | |
| Experimental Brain Research | |
| Artificial Organs | |
| Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Salzburg, Austria | 01/2024 |
| Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Salzburg, Austria | 01/2023 |
| Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Salzburg, Austria | 01/2022 |
| Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation, Salzburg, Austria | 01/2020 |
| Goldstein Innovation Grant program at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD | 03/2020 |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America, Washington, DC, Project Reviewer | 02/2021 |
| Praxis Spinal Stimulation Team Planning Grant, Vancouver, Canada | 01/2021 |
| Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research | 07/2023 |
Teaching Experience
| Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Preclinical Advising Program | Annual 2024/25 |
| NSCI 701-1, Graduate, Lecturer, Foundations of Neuroscience | Fall 2024 |
| Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Preclinical Advising Program | Annual 2023/24 |
| SOM 612, Medicine, Course, Lecturer, Musculoskeletal and Integumentary | Fall 2023 |
| NSCI 701-1, Graduate, Course, Lecturer, Foundations of Neuroscience | Fall 2023 |
| Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Preclinical Advising Program | Annual 2022/23 |
| ANAT 613-1, Medicine, Course, Lecturer, M1 Histology and Cell Biology | Annual 2022/23 |
| NSCI 701-1, Graduate, Course, Lecturer, Foundations of Neuroscience | Fall 2022 |
| NSCI 701-1, Graduate, Course, Lecturer, Foundations of Neuroscience | Fall 2022 |
| Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Preclinical Advising Program | Annual 2021/22 |
| ANAT 613-1, Medicine, Course, Lecturer, M1 Histology and Cell Biology | Annual 2021/22 |
| Medicine, Small Group, Facilitator, Preclinical Advising Program | Annual 2020/21 |
| ANAT 613-1, Medicine, Course, Lecturer, M1 Histology and Cell Biology | Annual 2020/21 |
| NSCI 701-1, Graduate, Course, Lecturer, Foundations of Neuroscience | Fall 2020 |
Directed Student Learning
| Research Advisor, Neurophysiological and clinical correlates in the development of spasticity after spinal cord injury. Advised: Allegra Latimer | 2024 - 2024 |
| Research Advisor, Characterize transcutaneous spinal stimulation to elicit posterior root reflexes for profiling spinal sensorimotor integration in humans. Advised: Aaron Plunkett | 2022 - 2022 |
| Dissertation Committee Chair, The effect of electrical neuromodulation with transcutaneous spinal stimulation on sensorimotor processing in humans Advised: Elizabeth Gordineer | 2021 - 2024 |