Wayne State University researchers Steven Siconolfi and Edward Dabrowski are creating a prototype space suit to test as a therapy for children with cerebral palsy, a condition that afflicts 500,000 children and adults in the U.S.

Siconolfi is a researcher and a deputy dean at Wayne State's Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Dabrowski is a physician at Children's Hospital who is also on the clinical faculty in Wayne State's department of pediatrics in the School of Medicine.

A former NASA research scientist, Siconolfi learned about the space suit's use in Russian and Polish medical clinics to help individuals who have suffered a loss of motor skills and provide better exercise. The suit uses a system of straps and bungee cords to assist the leg muscles, improve gait and provide other benefits.

Over the past 5-6 years, Siconolfi visited some of those clinics and observed remarkable progress, did some testing himself, but discovered the progress did not appear to be permanent in adults. He says, however, continued testing is needed. He has been working to raise the $200,000 needed for a "bare bones" research project that will determine once and for all whether the suit can lead to permanent improvements. He has recently teamed with Dr. Dabrowski at Children's Hospital to work on an American version of the suit for children with cerebral palsy. They have submitted several research proposals and are expecting two grants to come through any day now.