Aaron Phillips

Aaron Phillips is a Professor at the University of Calgary whose research targets one of the most under-addressed consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI): autonomic dysfunction, particularly life-limiting blood pressure instability. While functional recovery often dominates public attention, people living with SCI consistently prioritize restoration of autonomic control, as impaired blood pressure regulation reduces survival, increases cardiovascular risk, disrupts cognition, and limits participation in upright rehabilitation and daily life.

Dr. Phillips has developed an interdisciplinary program spanning neuroscience, cardiovascular physiology, bioengineering, and clinical translation to create an intelligent neural prosthetic system that restores blood pressure stability in real time, termed the “neuroprosthetic baroreflex.” His work began with the discovery of segmental “hemodynamic hotspots” in the thoracic spinal cord and the development of a new functional topographical map of human autonomic circuits (Nature, 2021), enabling precision stimulation strategies.

He translated these discoveries to humans in a Nature Medicine (2025) series of clinical trials demonstrating rapid and durable stabilization of blood pressure in people with chronic SCI and severe hypotension, enabling discontinuation of pharmacologic support and improving capacity for upright rehabilitation. In a landmark Nature paper (2025), he mapped the neuronal architecture driving post-SCI blood pressure crises and showed that his therapy produces both immediate stabilization and long-term protective plasticity.

Dr. Phillips’ work establishes a new therapeutic frontier in restoring core physiological function through precision spinal neuromodulation.

The Work:

Aaron Phillips’ research focuses on a major consequence of spinal cord injury: unstable blood pressure caused by damage to the body’s autonomic control systems. Through a series of foundational studies, he discovered the specific regions within the spinal cord that play a central role in regulating blood pressure.

Using this insight, Dr. Phillips developed an implantable neuroprosthetic system that delivers targeted electrical stimulation to the spinal cord. The system can continuously monitor blood pressure and adjust stimulation in real time, acting as an artificial reflex to restore stability. He translated this approach from laboratory studies into human clinical trials, demonstrating that the technology could safely and reliably correct severe blood pressure instability in people with chronic spinal cord injury.

The Impact:

Spinal cord injury affects more than 27 million people worldwide, and unstable blood pressure is one of its most disabling and dangerous consequences. Dr. Phillips’ work has shown, for the first time, that this problem can be effectively treated rather than simply managed. Clinical studies revealed that his therapy restores stable blood pressure, reduces reliance on medication, and allows people to sit upright, participate in rehabilitation, and engage more fully in daily life. This first-in-class therapy that has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation and is now advancing through pivotal trials for market approval.

Beyond spinal cord injury, this work is reshaping how autonomic disorders are understood and treated. By demonstrating that targeted spinal stimulation can restore essential bodily functions, Dr. Phillips has opened a new therapeutic direction with the potential to improve care for a wide range of conditions involving blood pressure dysregulation.