A device to restore touch sensation and reduce pain after breast surgery
Official title: Bionic Breast Project: A Neuroprosthesis to Restore Touch Sensation and Reduce Chronic Pain After Mastectomy
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-10894812 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new device called the Bionic Breast Device that aims to help women who have had a mastectomy by restoring touch sensations and reducing chronic pain, so if you're a breast cancer survivor looking for ways to improve your quality of life, this could be for you!
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $751,066 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281301-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10894812 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women who have recently undergone a mastectomy and are experiencing loss of sensation or chronic pain in the breast area.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone mastectomy or those with other unrelated chronic pain conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel device called the Bionic Breast Device (BBD) designed to help women who have undergone mastectomy by restoring touch sensation and alleviating chronic pain. The BBD uses a combination of neural stimulation and a stretchable sensor to detect pressure on the breast area, which can trigger sensations in the breast that have been lost due to surgery. The study aims to implant electrodes that stimulate the intercostal nerves, allowing patients to experience sensations that are typically absent after mastectomy. By participating, patients may contribute to understanding how this technology can improve quality of life for breast cancer survivors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the quality of life for women post-mastectomy by restoring touch sensation and reducing chronic pain.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using neural stimulation in limb amputees have shown success, suggesting potential for this novel application in breast surgery.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lindau, Stacy Tessler — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Lindau, Stacy Tessler
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Bionic Breast: Restoring touch and reducing pain after mastectomy
A small study tests a neural prosthesis to bring back touch and ease chronic pain for women who have had a mastectomy.
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Bionic breast neuroprosthesis to restore touch and reduce pain after mastectomy
This trial offers a small implant that senses touch on the reconstructed breast and stimulates chest nerves to bring back feeling and ease chronic pain for women after mastectomy.
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Motor cortex tricks to ease chronic pain
A study in rodents and people tests whether non-invasive brain stimulation of the motor cortex can reduce chronic pain and how best to target it.
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Human pain center study to map normal and migraine-trigeminal neurons
A large NIH-funded project will map and study the human trigeminal neurons involved in migraines to understand what changes in these cells during headache conditions.
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Understanding human pain neurons to improve migraine care
Researchers are studying human pain-sensing neurons to uncover what makes migraine start and persist, with the goal of better treatments for people who experience migraines.
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Whole Person Pain Algorithm to personalize chronic pain care
A new, evidence-based model helps explain why chronic low back pain affects people differently and could guide personalized diagnosis and treatment.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.