Associate Professor
Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Dr. Colin Franz, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and an attending physician at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. He leads a translational research program focused on restoring nerve, muscle, and respiratory function after injury, integrating human stem cell–derived neural and neuromuscular organoids with bioelectronic and bioresorbable stimulation technologies. His federally and foundation‑supported work includes NIH projects on wireless resorbable implants for diaphragm reinnervation, organoid‑based actuator/detector platforms, axonal fusion, and therapeutic electrical stimulation. Clinically, he directs the Electrodiagnostic Laboratory and cofounded the Diaphragm Muscle Program and C‑CARE nerve injury clinic. He specializes in complex peripheral nerve injuries, phrenic nerve dysfunction, and neuromuscular respiratory weakness, and has authored more than 70 publications while contributing to national leadership in neuromuscular medicine.
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The Interdisciplinary Clinic for Peripheral Nerve Injury – from Bench to Bedside
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM PT
