As a teenager, Johan McHugh survived a car crash and sustained a traumatic brain injury that significantly affected his mobility, learning, and memory. Today, he is rebuilding his life by studying horticulture, volunteering at a community garden, following soccer, and inspiring others with traumatic brain injury.

Through a donor-supported study at Kessler Foundation, Johan practices walking while navigating challenges that mirror daily life. The cognitive and motor training takes place on an augmented reality treadmill, helping him build skills he can use beyond the laboratory.

The progress is striking: Johan can now walk unassisted, use technology independently, and even balance on one leg. Johan’s experience reflects a broader vision for rehabilitation: pairing advanced technology with each participant’s goals and feedback. This personalized approach helps move promising ideas beyond the laboratory and into daily life, where greater independence matters most.

Johan says the experience has been motivating and enjoyable, and he would “definitely recommend” that others enroll in a Kessler Foundation research trial.