Colin Franz MD, PhD

About Me

Dr. Colin Franz, MD/PhD, is a physician and scientist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. His subspecialties include neuromuscular medicine, electrodiagnostic medicine, and neuromuscular ultrasound. He see patients for (i) peripheral nerve injuries, (ii) brachial plexus injuries, (iii) nerve or tendon transfer candidates or postoperative rehabilitation, (iv) polyneuropathy, diaphragm muscle weakness and ultrasound studies, and (v) motor neuron diseases such as ALS. He is the director of the Electromyography (clinical) and Regenerative Neurorehabilitation (research) laboratories at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. He also is an Assistant Professor in the departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Neurology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

His research is heavily inspired by the patient populations he cares for. His laboratory team takes a highly technology-oriented approach to precision rehabilitation medicine. Current studies range from transient (resorbable) implanted devices to deliver therapeutics directly to regenerating axons, to making human neurons derived from patient-derived pluripotent stem cells to determine isolate how individual genetic factors effect neurotrauma outcomes. Via many strong collaborations in Chicago and across North America, his lab is able to address clinical problems in neurorehabilitation, neurotrauma, nerve regeneration and degeneration. His research is supported by the NIH, Craig H. Nielsen Foundation, Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, as well as private gifts from community members such as the Belle Carnell (in memoriam) Regeneration Neurorehabilitation Fund.