Brad Hennessie

CEO @Nextstep Robotics

Baltimore, MD, US

NextStep Robotics is a University of Maryland, Baltimore spin out company developing a therapeutic device as the first proven treatment to overcome foot drop and gait abnormalities resulting from stroke.NextStep’s device, AMBLE, implements foot drop rehabilitation therapy based on neuroplasticity using clinically proven proprietary software to provide durable therapeutic affects in treating foot drop. There have been 5 clinical trials showing positive results that a 6-week training protocol where the user wears a device in the clinic for 45 minutes 3 times a week has proven effective. Further, patients continue to improve when the training is over. Improvements are based on the ability of the brain to adapt – “brain plasticity” – and they are durable. AMBLE is easy to use - designed to be deployed by any hands-on clinic staff as a therapy tool. The AI – based system being developed will assess and assign training protocols optimized for each patient’s deficit. In the near term, we will register the device with the FDA as a Class 2 (510k exempt) Exercise Device, allowing its use in clinics to be reimbursed. In parallel, we will conduct product trials based on a signed cooperative agreement from NIH NINDS prove effectiveness as a medical device. We will then apply for FDA designation as a Class 2 therapeutic device, to support claims that increase in ankle control, walking speed/safety and proper foot landing (heel first) which would prove durable reversal of foot drop. This will establish the AMBLE as the “standard of care” for foot drop. Other disabilities, permanent and temporary, will be considered, expanding the market. Since its inception in 2017 NextStep has raised funding from institutional and private investors and secured federal grant funding to support our development. That amount has reached over $7M and has set the company up for a strong product launch in 2021.

Towson University

Bachelor of Science (BS), Kinesiology and Exercise Science

University of Maryland Global Campus

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

University of Maryland Global Campus

Master of Science (MS), Health/Health Care Administration/Management