Adaptive deep brain stimulation to help Parkinson's patients respond to daily changes
Official title: Simplified, Scalable 24-hour adaptive deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11472896 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, smarter brain stimulation approach for Parkinson’s disease aims to automatically adjust therapy throughout the day to better control symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,095,406 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3NS140730-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11472896 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease who are candidates for or currently using deep brain stimulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not suitable for DBS or have conditions that DBS cannot address may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests an adaptive deep brain stimulation system that changes stimulation in real time based on brain signals and daily patterns. It builds on prior work showing that dynamic stimulation can improve motor symptoms and quality of life compared with conventional DBS. The team is addressing practical challenges like minimally invasive brain recordings, simplifying programming, and handling changing brain signals over time. If successful, the approach could bring advanced, personalized therapy from research labs into real-world clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience steadier symptom control and improved quality of life with a smarter, more responsive DBS system.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies showed that adaptive DBS can improve symptoms and quality of life compared with conventional DBS.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Starr, Philip Andrew — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Starr, Philip Andrew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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TinyML-powered closed-loop DBS for Parkinson's disease
A small, energy-efficient brain-stimulation system using lightweight AI runs on an implanted device to adapt DBS in real time for people with Parkinson's disease.
-
Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease
A safety-focused study tests a new brain-stimulation device that could tailor therapy for people with Parkinson’s by adapting stimulation based on brain signals and sleep stages.
-
Theta Burst Deep Brain Stimulation for Cognitive and Motor Benefits in Parkinson’s-Related Dementia
A study from USC will test a new brain stimulation approach to help people with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia improve thinking skills and movement.
-
Spatiotemporal Tuning of Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease
Aims to personalize deep brain stimulation by adjusting where and when the brain is stimulated to better control Parkinson’s symptoms.
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Understanding sleep problems in Parkinson’s disease using at-home brain recordings and adaptive stimulation
Scientists are testing how brain signals during sleep relate to sleep problems in Parkinson’s and whether a special DBS device at home can improve sleep by adapting stimulation.
-
Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation to Help with Visuo-Vestibular Conflicts in Parkinson's
A study to improve how people with Parkinson's use visual and balance cues when moving, by optimizing deep brain stimulation in the subthalamic nucleus to help navigation and balance.
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.