UGA Professor Kyle Johnsen Wins 2026 Georgia Life Sciences Innovation Award

Kyle Johnsen, a professor in the University of Georgia College of Engineering, has been honored with the 2026 Innovation Award from Georgia Life Sciences. The recognition highlights a significant leap in medical technology aimed at improving the quality of life for amputees.

The award was presented on August 25, 2026, during the Golden Helix awards ceremony held at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center as part of the Georgia Life Sciences Summit. Johnsen was recognized for his development of Targeted Brain Rehabilitation (TBR), a specialized gaze-controlled virtual reality (VR) therapy. The system is specifically engineered to treat phantom limb pain, a chronic and often debilitating condition experienced by many amputees.

The Technology Behind TBR

Targeted Brain Rehabilitation represents a shift in how neurological pain is managed. By utilizing VR and gaze-control mechanisms, the therapy allows patients to engage in immersive environments that help rewire the brain's perception of missing limbs. This approach moves beyond traditional pharmacological treatments, offering a non-invasive digital intervention for pain management.

To move the technology from the lab to the clinic, TBR has been licensed by Axolo Health. It is currently registered as a Class II Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), a regulatory designation that ensures the software meets specific safety and efficacy standards for medical use. This registration is a critical step in making the therapy accessible to a broader patient population through healthcare providers.

Academic and Research Leadership

Johnsen's work is supported by his leadership roles within the University of Georgia's research ecosystem. He currently directs the university's Virtual Experiences Laboratory, where he explores the intersection of human perception and digital environments. Additionally, he leads the Georgia Informatics Institutes for Research and Education, coordinating interdisciplinary efforts to apply data science and informatics to complex biological and engineering problems.

Industry Implications

Recognition from Georgia Life Sciences and the University of Georgia Office of Research typically signals a breakthrough with high commercial and clinical potential. The success of TBR underscores the growing role of "digital therapeutics"—software-driven interventions that can treat medical conditions. As SaMD registrations become more common, the industry is seeing a trend toward personalized, software-based rehabilitation that can be scaled more easily than traditional physical therapy.

Future Outlook

With the licensing agreement with Axolo Health in place, the next phase for TBR involves wider clinical deployment and the collection of long-term patient outcomes. Observers will be watching to see if the gaze-controlled VR model can be adapted for other types of neurological rehabilitation or chronic pain syndromes beyond phantom limb pain. For now, the 2026 Innovation Award cements Johnsen's position as a leader in the application of VR for medical recovery.