Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Todd H. Wagner is a leading health economist and rehabilitation researcher whose work has fundamentally shaped our understanding of stroke recovery and the value of robotic therapy. His primary research areas include the economics of rehabilitation, comparative effectiveness, and the translation of innovative technologies into clinical practice. Wagner is best known for his pivotal role in the VA ROBOTICS multicenter trial, which produced the landmark 2010 *New England Journal of Medicine* paper (1,409 citations) demonstrating that robot-assisted therapy can significantly improve long-term upper-limb function in chronic stroke patients—a population often considered beyond recovery. Beyond proving clinical efficacy, Wagner conducted the essential economic analysis (173 citations), showing that while robot-assisted therapy adds cost, it offers meaningful value for patients with severe impairment. His work has been instrumental in justifying insurance coverage and clinical adoption of rehabilitation robotics. By combining rigorous clinical trial design with sophisticated cost-effectiveness modeling, Wagner has provided the evidence base needed to integrate technology into post-stroke care, directly impacting treatment guidelines and patient access to advanced therapies.