A revolutionary breakthrough in pain relief was born here in Cleveland.

Case Western Reserve University master’s degree student Maria Bennett focused her biomedical engineering thesis on the idea that stimulation, rather than surgery or medication, was a viable option for treating chronic pain. In 2009, that study became the basis for the national company she founded here – SPR Therapeutics.

SPR’s patented SPRINT® PNS device has treated 50,000-plus patients to date. The device’s thin lead is placed near a damaged nerve and provides stimulation for 60 days, leading to long-awaited pain relief and a life of normalcy. Bennett says the testimonials from SPR patients are inspiring.

“The latest story I was reading was about a man who said his shoulder pain was significantly reduced, and his wife looked at him and said, ‘You’re smiling again,’” Bennett recalls.

SPR Therapeutics is proud to have its U.S. headquarters in Cleveland, employing nearly 100 people locally and more than 300 nationwide. The groundbreaking medical research is attracting top talent to SPR, resulting in their recognition as one of the fastest-growing companies in Greater Cleveland two years in a row.