Limbworks - Basic and Translational Research Peripheral Nerve Lab

Jonathan Cheng Lab

Meet the PI

Jonathan Cheng, MD, FACS - Limbworks Peripheral Nerve Research Lab

Jonathan Cheng, MD, FACS

Dr. Jonathan Cheng is Professor of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center; Chief of Pediatric Hand, Peripheral Nerve, and Microvascular Surgery; Director, Limbworks - Basic and Translational Research Peripheral Nerve Lab. He is a fellowship-trained hand surgeon with expertise in complex limb restoration, including peripheral nerve reconstruction, microvascular surgery, and amputee care.

His research interests in peripheral nerve regeneration and neural interfacing are well-matched with his clinical interests, as his research focus is on the development of real-world solutions to unmet clinical challenges.

As a member of the UT Southwestern Biomedical Engineering Program, Dr. Cheng mentors Ph.D. doctoral candidates from UT Southwestern and its partner institutions (UT Arlington and UT Dallas).

Learn More About Dr. Cheng

Research

The basic and translational research interests of Dr. Cheng include mechanistic investigations into peripheral nerve regeneration, neural interfacing for the control of robotic limbs, and bioelectronic medicines for the modulation of systemic disease. Our lab performs a comprehensive suite of outcome measures to assess peripheral nerve regeneration and chronic neural interfacing in the research setting.

Current studies include:

  • Long gap peripheral nerve regeneration
    • Translational therapies for peripheral nerve regeneration across a long nerve gap
    • Rapid screening of novel small molecule drugs
    • Small and large animal preclinical models
  • Fascicular targeting of peripheral nerve interfaces
    • Development of precise surgical techniques for placement of chronic peripheral nerve implants
    • Design of implantable systems for chronic neural recording and stimulation
    • Human trials to investigate the basic physiology of fascicular targeting
  • Bioelectronic medicines
    • Biologically active neural implants
    • Chronic interfacing of autonomic nerves

Dynamic peripheral nerve stimulation can produce cortical activation similar to punctate mechanical stimuli.

Tanner J, Keefer E, Cheng J, Helms Tillery S, 2023 Front Hum Neurosci 17 1083307

Artificial Intelligence Enables Real-Time and Intuitive Control of Prostheses via Nerve Interface.

Luu DK, Nguyen AT, Jiang M, Drealan MW, Xu J, Wu T, Tam WK, Zhao W, Lim BZH, Overstreet CK, Zhao Q, Cheng J, Keefer EW, Yang Z, 2022 10 IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 10 69 3051-3063

A portable, self-contained neuroprosthetic hand with deep learning-based finger control.

Nguyen AT, Drealan MW, Luu DK, Jiang M, Xu J, Cheng J, Zhao Q, Keefer E, Yang Z, 2021 Sep J Neural Eng

Fascicle-Specific Targeting of Longitudinal Intrafascicular Electrodes for Motor and Sensory Restoration in Upper-Limb Amputees.

Cheng J, Yang Z, Overstreet CK, Keefer E, 2021 Aug Hand Clin 3 37 401-414

Deep Learning-Based Approaches for Decoding Motor Intent From Peripheral Nerve Signals.

Luu DK, Nguyen AT, Jiang M, Xu J, Drealan MW, Cheng J, Keefer EW, Zhao Q, Yang Z, 2021 Front Neurosci 15 667907

A bioelectric neural interface towards intuitive prosthetic control for amputees.

Nguyen AT, Xu J, Jiang M, Luu DK, Wu T, Tam WK, Zhao W, Drealan MW, Overstreet CK, Zhao Q, Cheng J, Keefer E, Yang Z, 2020 Oct J Neural Eng

Fascicle specific targeting for selective peripheral nerve stimulation.

Overstreet CK, Cheng J, Keefer EW, 2019 Nov J Neural Eng 6 16 066040

An implantable, designed-for-human-use peripheral nerve stimulation and recording system for advanced prosthetics.

Lachapelle JR, Bjune CK, Kindle AL, Czarnecki A, Burns JR, Grainger JE, Segura CA, Nugent BD, Sriram TS, Parks PD, Keefer E, Cheng J 2016 08 Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2016 1794-1797

Detergent-free Decellularized Nerve Grafts for Long-gap Peripheral Nerve Reconstruction.

Vasudevan S, Huang J, Botterman B, Matloub HS, Keefer E, Cheng J 2014 Aug Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 8 2 e201

A rat model for long-gap peripheral nerve reconstruction.

Vasudevan S, Yan JG, Zhang LL, Matloub HS, Cheng JJ 2013 Oct Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 4 132 871-6

Dynamic three-dimensional facial topography in pediatric facial palsy: Understanding asymmetrical facial contours.

Prezelski K, Cheng J, Hallac RR, 2024 Oct J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 99 494-501

Migraine/Headache "Tender Spots" Represent Referred Pain From Nerve Compression/Neuromas and Are Not "Trigger Points".

Cheng J, Dellon AL, 2024 Nov Ann Plast Surg 5 93 606-610

Updates to the Physiologic Mechanism, Anatomical Sites, and Diagnostic Utility of the Scratch Collapse Test: A Systematic Review.

Faszholz AM, Cheng J, 2024 Jul Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 7 12 e5998

Multiparametric whole-body MRI of patients with neurofibromatosis type I: spectrum of imaging findings.

Thakur U, Ramachandran S, Mazal AT, Cheng J, Le L, Chhabra A, 2024 Aug Skeletal Radiol

Tendon Transfers to Improve Grip and Pinch in Patients with Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis.

Hua C, Bhai S, Cheng J, Hinojosa J, Wilson L, Lubinus M, Bhashyam AR, 2023 Nov Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 11 11 e5418

Percutaneous Fixation of Pediatric Fractures of the Proximal Phalanx Neck: A Novel Technique.

Pientka WF, Cheng J, 2020 Nov Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg

MR neurography of the brachial plexus in adult and pediatric age groups: evolution, recent advances, and future directions.

Mazal AT, Faramarzalian A, Samet JD, Gill K, Cheng J, Chhabra A, 2020 Jan Expert Rev Med Devices

In-Depth Look at the Anatomical Relationship of the Lesser Occipital Nerve, Great Auricular Nerve, and Spinal Accessory Nerve and Their Implication in Safety of Operations in the Posterior Triangle of the Neck.

Amirlak B, Lu KB, Erickson CR, Sanniec K, Totonchi A, Peled ZM, Cheng JC, 2020 09 Plast Reconstr Surg 3 146 509-514

Comparison of provocative manoeuvres in diagnosing thumb carpometacarpal joint arthritis.

Mailey B, Naram A, Cheng J, 2019 Sep J Hand Surg Eur Vol 7 44 750-752

Unique Uses of SPY: Revision Rhinoplasty.

Amirlak B, Dehdashtian A, Sanneic K, Lu KB, Cheng J, 2019 Jun Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 6 7 e2123

Diffusion-weighted imaging and diffusion tensor imaging as adjuncts to conventional MRI for the diagnosis and management of peripheral nerve sheath tumors: current perspectives and future directions.

Mazal AT, Ashikyan O, Cheng J, Le LQ, Chhabra A 2018 Dec Eur Radiol

Oral Antibiotics Are Effective for the Treatment of Hand Osteomyelitis in Children.

Kargel JS, Sammer DM, Pezeshk RA, Cheng J 2018 Aug Hand (N Y) 1558944718788666

Multiple Tumors on the Extremities: Answer.

Ukoha UT, Vandergriff T, Cheng J, Glass DA 2018 Aug Am J Dermatopathol 8 40 624-625

Arthroscopic Ganglionectomy in the Pediatric Population.

Ben-Amotz O, Pezeshk RA, Sammer DM, Cheng J 2018 11 Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 5 142 718e-721e

Asymmetric Sensory-Motor Regeneration of Transected Peripheral Nerves Using Molecular Guidance Cues.

Anand S, Desai V, Alsmadi N, Kanneganti A, Nguyen DH, Tran M, Patil L, Vasudevan S, Xu C, Hong Y, Cheng J, Keefer E, Romero-Ortega MI 2017 Oct Sci Rep 1 7 14323

Defining Temporal Hairline Landmarks.

Nagarkar PA, Cheng J 2017 May Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 5 139 1172e-1174e

Multiple Tumors on the Extremities.

Ukoha UT, Vandergriff T, Cheng J, Glass DA 2017 Apr Am J Dermatopathol

Magnetic resonance neurography in the management of peripheral trigeminal neuropathy: experience in a tertiary care centre.

Cox B, Zuniga JR, Panchal N, Cheng J, Chhabra A 2016 Jan Eur Radiol

Clinical Impact of Magnetic Resonance Neurography in Patients with Brachial Plexus Neuropathies.

Fisher S, Wadhwa V, Manthuruthil C, Cheng J, Chhabra A 2016 Aug Br J Radiol 20160503

An Association between Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Migraine Headaches-National Health Interview Survey, 2010.

Law HZ, Amirlak B, Cheng J, Sammer DM 2015 Mar Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 3 3 e333

Peripheral neuropathy: surgical approaches simplified for the imagers.

Kao DS, Cheng J 2015 Apr Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2 19 121-9

Chronic sensory-motor activity in behaving animals using regenerative multi-electrode interfaces.

Desai VH, Anand S, Tran M, Kanneganti A, Vasudevan S, Seifert JL, Cheng J, Keefer EW, Romero-Ortega MI 2014 Aug Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2014 1973-6

Evaluation of the scratch collapse test in peroneal nerve compression.

Gillenwater J, Cheng J, Mackinnon SE 2011 Oct Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 4 128

Discussion: Lymphaticovenular bypass for lymphedema management in breast cancer patients: a prospective study.

Cheng J 2010 Sep Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 3 126

Intraneural perineurioma of the radial nerve in a child.

Cortes W, Cheng J, Matloub HS 2005 Jul J Hand Surg Am 4 30

Topographic mapping of the superior transverse scapular ligament: a cadaver study to facilitate suprascapular nerve decompression.

Weinfeld AB, Cheng J, Nath RK, Basaran I, Yuksel E, Rose JE 2002 Sep Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 3 110

The effects of increased gravity and microgravity on cardiac morphology.

Goldstein MA, Cheng J, Schroeter JP 1998 Jun Aviat Space Environ Med 6 Suppl 69

Contact Us

Jonathan Cheng, M.D.

Professor
Plastic Surgery

Phone: 214-645-31
Email