University of Pennsylvania
Iahn Cajigas, MD, PhD, is a neurosurgeon and researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned degrees in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and Electrical & Medical Engineering from MIT, and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, followed by neurosurgical training at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial and a fellowship in functional and stereotactic neurosurgery at UCSF.
His clinical work focuses on helping patients with movement disorders, epilepsy, and chronic pain. In the research setting, he works with a multidisciplinary team to explore how the brain controls movement, with the long-term goal of improving therapies for people with paralysis and other neurological conditions. Supported by an NIH K12 award, his group studies the neural signals involved in hand control during surgery, using advanced sensors and motion tracking to better understand how the brain plans and initiates movement.
Dr. Cajigas has contributed to the development of brain–computer interface systems aimed at restoring movement, including work demonstrating hand grasp restoration and BCI-driven stepping. His publications span basic science and clinical research, with an emphasis on translating discoveries into practical tools that may one day improve patients’ independence and quality of life.
Disclosure(s): Boston Scientific: Research Grant (Ongoing)
Medtronic Inc.: Consultant (Ongoing)
Speaker/Honoraria (Ongoing)
Paradromics, Inc: Consultant (Ongoing)
Precision Neuroscience Corporation: Grant/Research Support (Ongoing)
Research Grant (Ongoing)
Innovative Spinal Functional Techniques: Brain Computer Interface
Saturday, February 28, 2026
4:46 PM - 4:55 PM MST