Innovation is more than a buzzword for us. Equipped with our own research institute and thanks to strong research collaborations, we do not only implement innovative technologies into our practices as fast as possible, but we also test their efficiency in treatment.
Research goals
The goal of our research and partnerships is to develop a novel form of neurorehabilitation that is seamlessly integrated into the daily routine of our patients. The goal is that you train yourself by being as active as possible. The necessary corrective feedback, assistance and safety measures are provided by intelligent technology and by the interaction with therapists.
Taking ownership of their own rehabilitation comes with certain challenges for patients, to do the different tasks correctly without supervision or help. The research efforts at our foundation CEFIR are focused on finding and further developing intelligent technologies in order to avoid mistakes and foster correct execution of the different rehabilitation tasks.
We are continuously taking part in innovative research collaborations and projects working in conjunction with renowned educational bodies around the world and always aiming for the highest quality of neurorehabilitation, based on the latest scientific developments.
Research collaborations
Together with ETH Zurich (DHEST, Prof. Gassert, Prof. Riener), cereneo develops sensor technologies to be able to monitor stroke patients during their daily life.
Together with Hocoma, cereneo develops new devices and robots for training arms and legs and tests their use in clinical studies.
Together with Twente University (Biomedical Signals and Systems, Prof. Dr. ir. Peter Veltink), cereneo develops sensor and feedback technology for stroke patients.
Together with Johns Hopkins University, cereneo performs randomised, clinical studies in the area of arm rehabilitation using new robot training approaches.
The USZ (University of Zurich)-cereneo Parkinson's disease recovery programme
We are proud to announce the collaboration between USZ and cereneo: Together we have developed a treatment approach that allows us to provide high quality care for gold standard Parkinson treatments at USZ and long-term rehabilitation at cereneo, while having access to a global network of leading Parkinson and neurorehabilitation experts. Want to learn what the programme offers to patients with Parkinson's disease?
The latest technology in stroke recovery
Our neurorehabilitation clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art movement analysis, robotic systems and other innovative devices to complement the hands-on training with the therapist.
Armeo® Power
by Hocoma
This arm exoskeleton helps impaired patients to train their arm movement by assisting with force or coordination.
ZeroG® by Aretech
This innovative over-ground gait training tool helps to train mobility and balance. Dynamic partial body weight support (DBWS) reduces the risk of falling whilst offering the patient a real-world experience.
Split-belt treadmill
Training on a split-belt treadmill with different velocities for each limb can trigger brain adaptations that render the gait more symmetrical. After a stroke this can be used to make the gait faster and less exhausting.
Current stroke research projects
Reward-augmented training
Diagnostic sensors
Precision training
Current publications
An Unusual Cause of Pseudomedian Nerve Palsy
Zina-MaryManjaly, Andreas R. Luft, and Hakan Sarikaya (2011). Case Reports in Neurological Medicine Volume 2011, Article ID 474271, 3 pages doi:10.1155/2011/474271
Dopaminergic Projections from Midbrain to Primary Motor Cortex Mediate Motor Skill Learning
Jonas A. Hosp, Ana Pekanovic,Mengia S. Rioult-Pedotti, and Andreas R. Luft (2011). The Journal of Neuroscience, February 16, 2011 • 31(7):2481–2487 • 2481
Cortical Plasticity during Motor Learning and Recovery after Ischemic Stroke
Jonas A. Hosp, and Andreas R. Luft (2011). Neural Plasticity Volume 2011, Article ID 871296, 9 pages doi:10.1155/2011/871296
Brain activation induced by dentine hypersensitivity pain–an fMRI study
Meier ML, Bru¨gger M, Ettlin DA, Luechinger R, Barlow A, Jäncke L, Lutz K. Brain activation induced by dentine hypersensitivity pain–a fMRI study. J Clin Periodontol 2012; 39: 441–447. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2012.01863.x.
Neurofeedback-mediated self-regulation of the dopaminergic midbrain
James Sulzer, Ranganatha Sitaram, Maria Laura Blefari, Spyros Kollias, Niels Birbaumer, Klaas Enno Stephan, Andreas Luft, Roger Gassert (2013). J. Sulzer et al. / NeuroImage 83 (2013) 817–825
Royal College of Physicians Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party evidence-based guidelines for the nutritional support of patients who have had a stroke
F. Gomes, C. Hookway & C. E. Weekes (2013). Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics- The British Dietetic Association Ltd
A Full Body Sensing System for Monitoring Stroke Patients in a Home Environment
Bart Klaassen1, Bert-Jan van Beijnum, Marcel Weusthof, Dennis Hofs, Fokke van Meulen, Henk Luinge, Alessandro Tognetti, Federico Lorussi, Rita Paradiso, Jeremia Held, Jasper Reenalda, Corien Nikamp, Jaap Buurke, Hermie Hermens and Peter Veltink (2014).
Royal College of Physicians Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party evidence-based guidelines for the secondary prevention of stroke through nutritional or dietary modification
C. Hookway, F. Gomes & C. E. Weekes (2014). Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics- The British Dietetic Association Ltd
What can the monetary incentive delay task tell us about the neural processing of reward and punishment?
Kai Lutz, Mario Widmer (2014). Neuroscience and Neuroeconomics 2014:3
Assessment-Driven Arm Therapy at Home Using an IMU-Based Virtual Reality System
Frieder Wittmann, Olivier Lambercy, Roman R. Gonzenbach, Mark A. van Raai, Raphael Höver, Jeremia Held, Michelle L. Starkey, Armin Curt, Andreas Luft and Roger Gassert (2015). IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR)
Detection and treatment of medical inpatients with or at-risk of malnutrition: suggested procedure based on validated guidelines
Bounoure L, Gomes F, Stanga Z, Keller U, Meier R, Ballmer P, Fehr R, Mueller B, Genton L, Norman K, et al. (2016). Detection and treatment of medical inpatients with or at-risk of malnutrition: suggested procedures based on validated guidelines. Nutrition. 32(7-8): 790-8
Risk of Malnutrition is an independent predictor of mortality, lenght of hospital stay, and hospitalisation costs in stroke patients. Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases
Gomes F., Emery P. W., Weekes C.E. (2016). Risk of Malnutrition Is an Independent Predictor of Mortality, Length of Hospital Stay, and Hospitalization Costs in Stroke Patients. Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases. 25(4): 799-806
Processing of Motor Performance Related Reward After Stroke
M. Widmer, A.R. Luft, K. Lutz (2016). In J. Ibáñez et al. (eds.), Converging Clinical and Engineering Research on Neurorehabilitation II, Biosystems & Biorobotics 15, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-46669-9_165
Separable systems for recovery of finger strength and control after stroke
Xu, J., Ejaz, N., Hertler, B., Branscheidt, M., Widmer, M., Faria, A. V., ... & Kitago, T. (2017). Separable systems for recovery of finger strength and control after stroke. Journal of neurophysiology, 118(2), 1151-1163
Thermodilution-determined Internal Jugular Venous Flow
Rasmussen, P., Widmer, M., Hilty, M. P., Hug, M., Sørensen, H., Ogoh, S., ... & Lundby, C. (2017). Thermodilution-determined Internal Jugular Venous Flow. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 49(4), 661-668
Elderly adults show higher ventral striatal activation in response to motor performance related rewards than young adults
Widmer, M., Stulz, S., Luft, A. R., & Lutz, K. (2017). Elderly adults show higher ventral striatal activation in response to motor performance related rewards than young adults. Neuroscience letters, 661, 18-22
ESPEN Guideline Clinical Nutrition in Neurology
Burgos R, Bretónb I, Cereda E, Desport JC, Dziewas R, Genton L, Gomes F, Jésus P, Leischker A, Muscaritoli M, Poulia KA, Preiser JC, Van der Marckm M, Wirth R, Singer P, Bischoff S. (2017). ESPEN Guideline Clinical Nutrition in Neurology. Clin Nutr. 37: 354-396
What the Proportional Recovery Rule Is (and Is Not): Methodological and Statistical Considerations
Robinson Kundert, MSc1,2,3, Jeff Goldsmith, PhD4*, Janne M. Veerbeek, PhD1,2, John W. Krakauer, MD5*, and Andreas R. Luft, MD1,2 (2019). Neurorehabilitation and Repair 00 (0): 1-12.
Reduced striatal activation in response to rewarding motor performance feedback after stroke
Mario Widmer, Kai Lutz and Andreas R. Luft (2019). Reduced striatal activation in response to rewarding motor performance feedback after stroke. NeuroImage: Clinical, Volume 24, 102036.