Making Strides: Paralysis and Innovation in NYC

Have you ever thought about how our bodies can be repaired with electrical signals? That's what doctors at Northwell Health in New York are trying to do. They've created devices that can help paralyzed people feel and move again. One patient, Keith Thomas, can now grasp, lift, and drink from a cup after using these devices. The goal is to make these devices small and easy to use, so people can take them anywhere, not just to hospitals. But Northwell Health isn't the only place making big discoveries. NYU Langone Hospital recently helped a woman named Lisa Pisano live longer by giving her a manmade heart pump and a genetically modified pig kidney. This is one of the first times an animal organ has been used in a human. Companies like Tempus and Flatiron Health are also working on ways to help doctors find the best treatments for diseases like cancer.

The state of New York is investing a lot of money into these projects. Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York is putting $150 million into a research center on Long Island. This center will focus on how to fix mutations in our cells, which could one day help cure diseases like cancer or cystic fibrosis. Michael Dowling, the CEO of Northwell Health, is excited about all these innovations. He believes that today's technology makes it the best time to be alive. He even said that he wouldn't be here today if it weren't for today's medical advances.

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