Colin Franz MD, PhD

Dr. Colin Franz is a physician-scientist with fellowship training and board certifications in neuromuscular medicine, electrodiagnostic medicine, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. He serves as Director of the Electrodiagnostic Laboratory at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and leads a federally funded research laboratory focused on neural injury and repair.

Clinically, Dr. Franz specializes in the evaluation and management of complex peripheral nerve disorders, with particular expertise in brachial plexus injuries, phrenic neuropathy and diaphragm dysfunction, electrodiagnostic medicine, and neuromuscular ultrasound. He receives regional and national referrals for patients with acute and subacute nerve injuries affecting upper extremity function, breathing, and mobility. His clinical practice also includes the care of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Due to a high volume of specialty referrals, he is unable to provide general rehabilitation or musculoskeletal care.

Dr. Franz's laboratory takes a highly technology-driven approach to advancing personalized rehabilitation medicine, drawing inspiration from the patients it serves. Current research focuses on developing transient (resorbable) bioelectronic implants to deliver therapeutics directly to regenerating nerves and on generating human neural organoids from patient-derived pluripotent stem cells to model disease so we can better understand how genetic variation influences neurotrauma and regenerative capacity.

Dr. Franz's research is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), American Neuromuscular Foundation, and the Belle Carnell Regenerative Neurorehabilitation Fund.