Month: December 2025

2025-12-20T08:01:00

(BPT) – Building on long-standing cooperation and strong partnership with the United States, Poland is working to become a major player in the global space market.

That ambition is shining through in policy choices, joint missions and concrete investments that tie Polish industry to U.S. programs.

The two countries have been formal allies through NATO since 1999, cooperating closely on defense and security. Leaders on both sides of the Atlantic are extending this trust and collaboration into space.

In the newest development in this partnership, Polish media mogul and self-made billionaire Zygmunt Solorz has been in discussions regarding a major investment in Houston-based Axiom Space, led by billionaire Kam Ghaffarian and backed by U.S. investors including Donald Trump, Jr.

“A partnership with Axiom Space and Kam Ghaffarian would be a significant step for Poland in the U.S. commercial space market, giving Poland the chance to contribute directly to the future of commercial spaceflight and strengthen its position in the global space economy,” said Solorz.

Solorz and Ghaffarian met with high-level U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., and at the White House on Dec. 3-4 earlier this month, underscoring the visibility of prospective Polish investment in the American commercial space sector.

Ghaffarian, Axiom Space’s co-founder and former NASA scientist, echoed this sentiment, noting, “Poland’s increasing involvement in the global space economy is an important development for transatlantic cooperation, and we value Mr. Solorz’s active engagement as these discussions progress.”

This is the most recent example of U.S.-Polish collaboration in the final frontier. In 2021, Poland joined the U.S.-led Artemis Accords, which established a set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation, particularly within NASA’s lunar exploration plans. Then-NASA Administrator and astronaut Bill Nelson recognized Poland’s commitment to establishing peaceful norms in space, which he said cannot be accomplished alone.

Earlier this year, Poland launched its first astronaut in more than 40 years to the International Space Station (ISS). Aboard a private flight — a SpaceX rocket mission arranged by Axiom Space — Polish astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewsk became the second Pole to travel to space. “Let this mission be the beginning of an era in which our courage and perseverance will shape a modern Poland for us and for future generations,” said Uznanski-Wisniewsk after the successful launch.

Co-financed by the Polish government and supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), Poland’s experiments during Uznanski-Wisniewsk’s two-week stay spanned from research on human sciences, engineering, physics and testing technologies in orbit. The work provided results that inform both academic research and commercial use cases. The mission’s success signaled that Poland is continuing to move from consumer to contributor within this ecosystem. That shift is also evident in the Polish Space Agency’s collaboration with several Polish companies to build and launch the country’s largest ever satellite last year.

By integrating into the U.S. space economy, Poland is positioning itself as Central Europe’s hub for research, dual-use technologies and space diplomacy. This progress has been on display as Polish manufacturer Scanway Space secured its first order from an American company, Intuitive Machines, for a multispectral telescope to map the Moon’s surface this year. Poland is also preparing to launch its first military satellites into orbit from the United States, with launch planned from California aboard a SpaceX rocket.

Poland’s international profile will further rise when it hosts the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in 2027, expected to host nearly 10,000 guests from around the world. Among the world’s largest gatherings of agencies, companies and researchers, the decision to select Poland to host signals the country’s expanding convening power and industrial ambition in space.

Together, these policy and commercial elements illustrate how Poland is helping the United States build next-generation space infrastructure. For the United States, allied engagement supports resilience in critical space services, while broadening the research base and supply chain. For Poland, it unlocks access to orbital platforms, technology transfer opportunities and new investment channels.

Together, the United States and Poland are expanding on their transatlantic allyship and charting a bold new trajectory — one that could redefine their roles in the space economy and expand the horizons of exploration for years to come.

Photo caption: Billionaires Kam Ghaffarian and Zygmunt Solorz before heading into a meeting with high-level U.S. officials at the White House on Dec. 3.

2025-12-19T16:01:01

(BPT) – It’s a cold winter day, so you’ve decided to take a hot shower to warm up and relax. However, as soon as you step out of the steamy heat into your cold bathroom, the comforting warmth of your bath is replaced by an icy draft that makes you shiver before you can grab your towel.

This case of the “shiver shocks” doesn’t just make the aftermath of your shower unpleasant. It’s a sign of a colder home.

Instead of accepting a cold home as a part of winter life, consider taking simple steps to create a warm, healthy and inviting home to help stave off the colder weather. Consider adding these easy upgrades to your winter prep to-do list, so you can enjoy the winter season from inside your cozy abode.

Seal drafts

One of the first steps you should take to create a warm home is to find and seal drafts to prevent outdoor cold air from seeping in and warm air from leaking out. Start by checking windows and doors for gaps around the frame. If you find any cracks, seal them off with caulk and consider adding or replacing weather stripping.

Sealing these drafts doesn’t just create a cozy home. This simple fix can also improve energy efficiency!

Use a bathroom-safe space heater and fan

High indoor relative humidity (RH) doesn’t just make your home feel colder; it can make it harder for your body to stay warm. Humid air sticks to your skin, and that moisture conducts heat away from your body. That’s why when you step out of a hot shower or bath, you’re hit with the shiver shocks.

You can easily elevate your bath experience and keep moisture and cold at bay by installing a bathroom-safe space heater and exhaust fan. A solution like the Panasonic Whisper Cozy offers you relief from the wet cold.

Designed for both ease of installation and code compliance, the Whisper Cozy^® fan offers enhanced heating technology that swiftly warms up bathrooms, creating a warmer and more comfortable space. The fan/heater also promotes a healthier environment by efficiently removing excess humidity and moisture, so you can enjoy your bathing experience knowing you’ll be warm during and after your bath or shower.

Use air quality sensors

While winter is known for having dry air outdoors, the indoors can have too much moisture. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when temperatures dip, air holds less moisture, causing water to condense on cold surfaces like windows, bathroom mirrors and tiles.

This moisture can increase the RH, creating the perfect environment for mold and mildew to thrive, leading to serious structural problems, a colder home and poor indoor air quality (IAQ).

Keep track of the indoor RH and other IAQ factors with IAQ sensors like Swidget. Once you know how humid it is indoors, you can take steps to manage the moisture to create a cozier, healthier home for your family.

Pro tip: Keep your indoor RH below 60%, but ideally between 30% and 50%. During the winter, you may want to err closer to 30%.

Install heated towel racks

One extra step you can take to add a touch of cozy luxury and warmth to your bathroom is to install a heated towel rack. When you take a warm towel from the rack and wrap yourself in it as you exit the shower, you can enjoy a spa-like moment that makes the winter months more indulgent. Plus, the rack can also drive out extra moisture, ensuring you always have dry, warm towels.

Remember, winter prep isn’t just about layering up in coats, sweaters, socks and snow gear. Creating a cozy and comforting home environment is an essential step in your winter prep. Using these tips, you can create a warmer, welcoming space that you’ll be happy to step into every day this winter.

2025-12-19T06:05:00

(BPT) – Gone are the days when entertaining meant the host did all the work. Today’s social gatherings are more interactive with guests eager to get hands-on and personalize their own creations. Instead of a cocktail party or a formal dinner, why not host a personalized coffeehouse gathering?

All you need are premium coffee beans, flavored syrups and your choice of dairy or dairy alternatives. Invite friends to drop by your “café” and let them craft their own coffee specialties with professional-quality results. JURA‘s fully automatic coffee machines make this entertaining trend easy, stylish and delicious.

Some Like It Hot – or Not

The JURA Z10 delivers 40 café-quality hot, cold brew and sweet foam coffee specialties at the touch of a button. Its innovative brewing technology extracts full-bodied hot drinks, while the exclusive Cold Extraction Process creates refreshing cold brews. It’s the perfect choice to please all your café guests, whether they prefer steaming-hot cappuccinos or chilled flat whites.

Twice as Nice

The J8 twin can process two different coffee bean varieties thanks to the double bean hopper and two high-performance conical disc grinders. It can prepare 31 delicious specialties at the touch of the display. Enjoy an espresso in the morning and decaf at night or customize a personal blend of two different single-origin beans.

Finish with Sweet Foam

Both the Z10 and J8 twin feature JURA’s exclusive Sweet Foam Function, which infuses milk foam with flavored syrups. Simply fill the attachment with syrup, and the system creates flavored milk foam that can be adjusted from subtle to bold. Guests can craft their own sweet amaretto macchiato, sweet cinnamon cortado or cold sweet salted caramel — the flavor combinations are endless.

Keep It Cool

JURA’s Cool Control accessory keeps milk at the optimal temperature, ensuring perfect milk foam every time. The stainless steel milk container, metal tube and adapter are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. For milk alternatives or occasional use, the Milk Carafe offers a compact, stylish solution that fits neatly in any refrigerator and can be labeled for different types of milk.

Serve with Style

Complete your café setup with JURA’s elegant line of tableware, including Latte Macchiato Spoons, Coffee Spoons, Tall Latte Macchiato Glasses and Espresso Glasses — a finishing touch that elevates the entire experience.

With JURA, you can host the ultimate DIY café experience and make every guest a barista and every cup a personal creation. For more information, visit jura.com.

2025-12-19T08:01:00

(BPT) – It’s that time of year again — temps are dropping, roads may be slick and you never know when a winter storm could hit. You may already be planning to take care of routine car maintenance ahead of bad weather or holiday travel, but when was the last time you checked for vehicle safety recalls?

A public opinion survey commissioned by automaker Stellantis found that 40% of drivers believe a recall is fine as long as it doesn’t affect the performance of their vehicle. But the truth is, some recalls may not affect the way a vehicle drives, but they may still pose a safety risk.

How likely is it that your vehicle has a recall? According to CARFAX, over 57 million vehicles on the road today have an unrepaired safety recall — that’s roughly 1 in every 5 cars and trucks.

If you’re part of the 43% of American drivers who don’t know how to check for open safety recalls, check out these tips from the National Safety Council, America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive this season.

How to check for safety recalls

Checking to see if your vehicle has any recalls is easier than you think, and even better — recall repairs are free!

To check, visit CheckToProtect.org and look up your vehicle by license plate or VIN. If the lookup tool indicates that your vehicle has a safety recall, call a local dealer immediately to schedule a free recall repair. Authorized dealers will always repair a safety recall for free, regardless of whether the vehicle is registered in your name or still under warranty, and you don’t need to be a past customer to get a free recall repair at a dealership.

Why safety recall checks matter

Checking for safety recalls is important because if an automaker determines there’s a problem that puts your safety at risk, they’ll issue a safety recall and reach out to the name and address they have on file for that vehicle. If your automaker doesn’t have your current contact information, you wouldn’t receive recall notices for your vehicle.

Safety recalls can affect everything from your brakes and steering to batteries, electrical systems and airbags, so the health and safety of you, your passengers and fellow drivers on the road may be at risk. You may not notice anything wrong until a part fails, so don’t delay getting that free repair.

Make safety recall checks part of your regular vehicle maintenance, especially ahead of the busy winter travel season. Commit to checking for vehicle safety recalls quarterly as one of your New Year’s resolutions.

Make an appointment now

In addition to checking for recalls, it’s important to make sure your car or truck is in good shape and ready for winter driving. This means checking your tires and brakes to ensure they’re in good condition, and catching up on routine oil changes, filter replacements and fluid level checks.

Depending on the severity of winter weather where you live, you may also opt for snow tires and heavy-duty wipers that can better handle snow, ice and slush.

Pack your car with winter necessities

Checking that your trunk contains everything you need for winter driving — and potentially getting stranded — is also smart planning. This can include, of course, a spare tire, jack and jumper cables. Also consider adding an ice scraper, plus sand or kitty litter and a shovel, in case your vehicle gets stuck on snow or ice. You will also want to store a well-equipped first aid kit, flashlight, flares and blankets in your trunk, especially if you’re planning a road trip.

Don’t let vehicle trouble spoil your fun travel plans this winter. Checking for and repairing any vehicle recalls will give you peace of mind on the road. Visit CheckToProtect.org to get started on your winter driving prep today.

2025-12-18T12:01:00

(BPT) – As Americans buckle up for cold temperatures and wetter weather, a new survey from Hankook Tire finds that drivers are approaching winter car care differently, reflecting a variety of habits and levels of preparedness.

Drivers are dusting off their ice scrapers and grabbing their shovels before snow even hits the ground, with most Americans focusing on vehicle servicing and planned maintenance, according to Hankook’s latest Gauge Index. Over half of Americans (53%) see themselves as “routine maintainers,” typically getting their vehicles ready a few weeks before the first expected snowfall. One in five drivers identify as “early planners,” who begin their winter preparations at least a month in advance, prioritizing proactive safety measures.

Interestingly, experienced drivers are less likely to keep up with regularly scheduled car care ahead of the winter, with only 39% of Boomers considering themselves to be “routine maintainers,” compared to 56% of Gen Z drivers.

Watching forecasts and checking the basics

One-third of drivers surveyed (34%) say they check long-range weather forecasts a few times per year and nearly as many (32%) look on a monthly basis, using that information to guide when and how they get their vehicles ready.

Once drivers decide it’s time to start their winter preparations, most make key preventative maintenance tasks a priority. More than half (57%) of drivers will check or adjust their tire pressure, making it the top winter-prep activity among respondents, closely followed by those who say they’ll get an oil change (55%). Additionally, many Americans will refill windshield wiper fluid (45%) and rotate their tires (40%) as they anticipate harsher road conditions.

What’s on drivers’ shopping lists?

Many drivers are not taking chances this winter, planning to target purchases that improve visibility and traction in inclement weather. Before the end of the year, 39% of drivers say they will purchase new wiper blades, hoping to improve visibility and confidence when driving through rain, snow and slush.

Having the right tires for your vehicle and driving conditions is important to ensure proper traction no matter what the forecast brings. All-weather tires are typically designed for better winter performance and improved control on snow or icy roads, while all-season tires are typically better suited for more mild driving conditions, like dry or wet roads.

To that end, more than one-third of drivers (37%) indicate they plan to purchase new all-weather tires within the next couple months. Four in 10 drivers in the South plan to purchase all-weather tires for unexpected weather changes, while Northeastern drivers are most likely to purchase winter tires (24%) for control on snow and icy roads.

Younger drivers say they’ll take additional precautions as Gen Z (34%) and Millennial (23%) drivers plan to switch to winter tires ahead of inclement weather. In contrast, only 15% of Gen X drivers and 13% of Boomers report switching to winter tires, showing different generations’ priorities around winter-specific safety practices.

Because weather patterns can shift just as quickly as traffic, preparing for the road ahead can make all the difference in just how safely you make it to your destination. Being mindful of the weather forecast, preventative maintenance and your vehicle’s needs can help lead to a smoother ride throughout the season.

2025-12-18T12:55:00

(BPT) – With meat prices expected to climb in the next year, shoppers are looking for ways to bring big flavor to the table without stretching their budgets. But there’s one ingredient proving that home cooks can have bold, memorable flavor and stay on budget: ground pork.

As part of its new Taste What Pork Can Do campaign, the National Pork Board is spotlighting ground pork as one of the most flavorful, versatile and affordable whole-food proteins consumers can bring into their kitchens. Packed with 111 distinct flavor nuances — from subtle sweetness to rich umami — ground pork has the kind of natural depth that makes any dish feel more satisfying.

“Ground pork brings an amazing balance of flavor, creativity and approachability to the home kitchen,” says José de Jesús, assistant vice president of consumer marketing at the National Pork Board. “People love how easy it is to cook with — and they’re surprised by how much culinary personality it brings to everyday meals.”

Why ground pork makes sense right now

Pork prices have remained stable, giving shoppers confidence in predictable costs even as other grocery costs fluctuate. For families trying to stretch their dollars, a whole-food protein that’s both affordable and naturally flavorful is a win.

Because ground pork is a whole-food protein, it fits comfortably into a variety of cooking styles, from quick weeknight sautés to slow-simmered comfort dishes. Its consistency is tender yet hearty, allowing it to maintain moisture while browning beautifully.

How ground pork performs in the kitchen

Ground pork’s great flavor, tender texture and natural juiciness make it easy to incorporate into countless dishes. Whether you’re craving something quick, cozy or bold, it adapts effortlessly.

For great results cooking with ground pork, follow these cooking tips and access recipes at Taste What Pork Can Do.

1. Brown it boldly.

Use medium-high heat to develop caramelization — that’s where the flavor magic happens.

2. Season with balance.

Ground pork plays well with bright, acidic ingredients like citrus, tomato, vinegar and fresh herbs. A splash of soy, miso or Worcestershire layers in savory depth.

3. Avoid overcooking.

Ground pork is juicy by nature. Cook just until it reaches 160°F to maintain tenderness and moisture.

4. Build layers of aroma.

Start with aromatics like garlic, onion, ginger or shallots before adding ground pork; it absorbs those flavors beautifully.

5. Let versatility guide you.

It works in everything from pasta dishes to lettuce wraps to breakfast hashes to seasonal holiday favorites. It also makes a fantastic burger for the grill — pork smashburgers are a delicious experience. With ground pork, you’re rarely limited.

A budget-friendly flavor upgrade

At a time when grocery bills are rising, ground pork offers a dependable, flavorful, whole-food option that helps families save while still eating well. It’s the kind of ingredient that makes everyday cooking feel exciting, approachable and creative.

2025-12-18T14:01:00

(BPT) – Between surprise spills, shedding season and never-ending laundry cycles, keeping a home running smoothly can feel like a full-time job. With decades of cleaning expertise, Maytag brand knows how to make your messes feel a little more manageable with tips designed to help you stay ahead of it all.

“Messes happen and we continue to be dedicated to finding solutions that help turn even the toughest messes into quick wins,” said Lindsay Jones, Senior Manager, PR and Brand Experience, Whirlpool Corporation. “We designed our new Maytag^® Pet Pro Top Load System to take on your toughest laundry loads with ease so you can spend less time worrying about laundry and more time doing what you love.”

Here’s how to conquer laundry like a pro.

Upgrade your washer

The washer you use matters when tackling tough pet stains. For example, the Maytag^® 5.2 Cu. Ft. Pet Pro Top Load Agitator Washer with Extra Power and Sanitize Cycle with Oxi boosts stain fighting on any wash cycle. Its Extra Power Option offers an intense pre-wash and extra agitation so you can walk away while stains wash away. You can also get more water when you want it, with its Deep Fill option. The extra water works with robust wash action to saturate loads, loosen stains and help soak away tough messes.

Get Organized and Stay Connected

Whether you’re a family of one or a family of five, setting a consistent laundry schedule that fits into your lifestyle is a great way to get ahead of the laundry game. For larger families, a daily schedule is more ideal and for smaller households, weekly may be the perfect fit.

The MAYTAG™ APP also helps you stay in control and efficiently manage laundry from anywhere.* You’ll get end-of-cycle notifications on your smart device to ensure finished loads aren’t left behind, plus step-by-step pretreating instructions in the Stain Guide to tackle everyday tough stains.

Lift and capture pet hair

Pet hair on clothing or in laundry machines can keep recirculating throughout your house, making the problem worse. One of the best ways to lift and capture pet hair is using the Maytag^® Pet Pro Top Load SystemWasher, which is designed to help keep clothes and bedding from hanging on to pesky hair after washing. The Maytag^® Pet Pro Top Load Washer is built to trap pet hair. Simply press the Pet Pro option to activate the built-in Pet Pro Filter to visibly remove pet hair. The dryer’s lint trap also collects and removes additional pet hair.

To further contain hair, offer your pets their own beds and wash them frequently.

Pets aren’t the only mess-makers: Know your stains and choose the right settings

Knowing what created each stain helps you select the best water temperature for removal. Hot water can set some stains into fabric but dissolves others, depending on the stain’s composition. Although some stains respond best to rinsing/soaking in cold water followed by a wash cycle in warm or hot, this isn’t always true. For best results and guidance, always refer to the garment care label first.

Here are a few stain culprits and the best tips for removing them.

• Coffee: Start by rinsing the garment in cold water and applying detergent. Wash in the warmest water safe for the fabric and repeat these steps if the stain remains.
• Makeup/foundation: Use the edge of a spoon or credit card to carefully scrape off fabric. For powdered products, blow or gently shake the garment to remove excess. Apply liquid laundry detergent directly to the stain and fully saturate the area, blotting with clean cloth or paper towel. Let sit about 10 minutes, then machine or hand wash using the warmest water recommended for the fabric.
• Wine: First rinse in cold water, then apply an enzyme detergent, allowing it a few minutes to set. Finish by washing the item in your washing machine using the warmest water that’s safe for your clothing.
• Crayons: Apply liquid dish soap and scrub with a clean toothbrush. Let sit a few minutes, then rub the fabric together under warm running water to remove excess suds. Machine wash on Heavy Soil setting and line dry.
• Ketchup/tomato sauce: These stains will harden so you can scrape off any excess. Avoid dabbing, as that could spread the stain. Flush the stain in cold water from the backside of the fabric, then apply detergent to pretreat five minutes before rinsing.
• Ice cream: Use a spoon or dull knife to remove excess before flushing the stain in cold water from the back of the fabric. Soak in cold water and enzyme detergent. Finish by applying detergent and running the garment through your washing machine in the warmest water safe for the fabric.

Use Extra Power

The Extra Power option boosts stain fighting on any wash cycle with an intense pre-wash and extra agitation so you can walk away while stains wash away.

With these tools and tactics, pet parents can keep clothes and bedding looking and smelling better. Find more stain-fighting tips at Maytag.com.

*Appliance must be set to remote enable. WiFi & App Required. Features subject to change. Details and privacy information at Maytag.com/connect.

2025-12-18T12:01:00

(BPT) – New precision neuromodulation techniques are redefining what’s possible for neurological recovery, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has made a substantial investment to support the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in leading a national effort. MUSC now stands at the forefront of groundbreaking research with the potential to transform recovery from stroke and neurological conditions.

More than 795,000 Americans experience a stroke every year. Millions more face other neurological injuries and diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury and depression. For many, the hardest part begins afterward: trying to regain movement, speech and independence and return to a good quality of life. It’s estimated that more than 13 million Americans are navigating recovery from these conditions — often while coping with lasting disabilities. For decades, research has focused on prevention or emergency treatment, not rebuilding lives in the months and years that follow.

Researchers at MUSC are changing that. Led by Steven Kautz, Ph.D., a Distinguished University Professor and the Christie Family Endowed Chair in Stroke Rehabilitation Research in the College of Health Professions, MUSC created the nation’s very first precision neurorehabilitation center, where scientists pair personalized neuromodulation with rehabilitation to help the brain rewire itself — a neural-circuit based approach to rehabilitation.

This approach is so innovative that the NIH chose MUSC as a national leader, awarding the team a highly competitive P50 center grant in its rehabilitation infrastructure network — its flagship investment in rehabilitation research. MUSC’s breakthrough research could transform how neurological patients recover across the U.S. and worldwide.

“The recognition of our work by NIH signals that precision neurorehabilitation is the future of neurologic recovery, and MUSC should lead that future,” said Kautz. “We’re dedicated to exploring the most effective technology to improve recovery for patients everywhere.”

Internationally recognized in neurorehabilitation, Kautz and his team combine neuromodulation with rehabilitation to improve recovery for patients with stroke and other neurological conditions.

How neuromodulation works

Strokes alter a person’s nervous system drastically, resulting in diminished function that can be very difficult to recover from, even with extensive rehabilitation therapy.

Using advanced precision neuromodulation technology, Kautz and the MUSC team are able to apply the latest imaging techniques to identify specific dysfunctional neural circuits. They then use advanced neuromodulation tools to stimulate those exact circuits during rehab, while patients perform activities guided by rehabilitation experts. This precise stimulation of neural circuits paired with rehab helps the brain to relearn skills and retrain faster, making therapy far more effective.

“While a patient can improve physical functioning to some degree by practicing activities in therapy, their results can be limited, and the process may be long and difficult,” explained Kautz. “This groundbreaking technology helps the brain rewire itself, with processes that have rarely been applied to rehabilitation. These neuromodulation tools increase the excitability of a brain region while a patient performs the task so there’s more neuroplasticity. Thanks to these precision techniques, and pairing neuromodulation so that the brain is in a more receptive state with rehabilitation, we can repair dysfunctional neural circuits so people will recover their physical functions better and faster. These results can bring real hope to people struggling to recover from stroke.”

Real-world rehabilitation

This combination of rehab therapy with precision neuromodulation may also improve the durability of recovery for patients long after they leave rehabilitation. The program at MUSC explores many innovative ways to ensure skills improved in rehabilitation are lasting and applicable to real-world environments. The Clinical Research Center for Restoration of Neural-Based Function in the Real World (RENEW), also spearheaded by Kautz, is the first of its kind in the country to support people making this crucial transition from rehab to home.

Randal Davis, director of Strategic Research Initiatives at the MUSC College of Health Professions, experienced a neurological condition that provided valuable insights.

“I was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome at 36 and had to learn to walk again,” said Davis. “I thought I was doing great in rehab. I could roll my wheelchair under the sink. I was rolling across the terrazzo floor and learned all these tips and tricks. Then I got home; I’m rolling the wheelchair across carpet and have a pedestal sink with nowhere to put my toothbrush. Suddenly, all those things learned in rehab weren’t durable.”

This situation happens far too frequently, Kautz explained. “Recovery shouldn’t end when patients leave the rehab clinic. Too often, gains made in therapy don’t translate to real life. MUSC is solving that gap. We’ve designed labs where we’ll use virtual reality to mimic the real world more closely.”

Precision neuromodulation as the future of neurologic recovery

Kautz is leading the only precision neurorehabilitation center in the country, and these techniques are already being used or explored for stroke recovery and other neurological conditions.

“These neuromodulation tools are crucial to helping us understand neural circuits, then use that information to tailor precision treatment to each individual. This will help us achieve the maximum functional benefits of therapy for each patient,” said Kautz. “And these tools could benefit any condition where neural circuits aren’t functioning the way they need to, opening the door for better recovery and helping people improve their physical and mental health, ultimately improving their quality of life.”

Trailblazing research

The NIH has recently awarded an additional grant of $7.8 million to complete the RENEW Center, looking to MUSC as a role model for the country.

With this award, NIH has entrusted MUSC with shaping what comes next — not only advancing precision neurorehabilitation but training the researchers who will define the field for decades. The work done here is meant to open pathways, creating a national network of scientists equipped to deliver precision recovery to patients everywhere.

“This level of NIH support validates a decade of groundbreaking work,” said Kautz. “These investments show that precision neuromodulation isn’t a theory anymore; it’s a national priority. Our goal is to develop new knowledge and tools for the research and clinical community so we can bring these innovations into the clinic quickly, so neurological patients everywhere can benefit from the science unfolding at MUSC in real time. This has the potential to be truly life-changing.”

Learn more about this innovative research at CHP.MUSC.edu/research-innovation/centers/stroke-recovery.