Automated DBS programming to improve Parkinson’s care at home and clinic
Official title: DBS-Expert Pro: Automated Deep Brain Stimulation Programming Using Functional Mapping
Funded at Great Lakes Neurotechnologies · NIH-11398197 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new software tool helps doctors and patients set deep brain stimulation parameters for movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease more quickly and accurately, in clinics or at home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Great Lakes Neurotechnologies NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Independence, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 21, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $926,671 |
| NIH project number | 5R44NS143484-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398197 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease who have DBS implants and whose clinicians are managing programming.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without DBS implants or without clinician supervision may not benefit from this tool.
What this research studies
This project aims to turn DBS-Expert Pro into a user-friendly product that uses intelligent algorithms and motion sensor data to find the best DBS settings. It will map brain stimulation parameters to patient motor outcomes and guide programming decisions with clinician and patient devices. The goal is to reduce time in clinics, decrease patient burden, and bring expert DBS strategies to more patients across the country. Data from in-clinic and at-home assessments will be used to refine the algorithms and improve safety and efficacy. The end result should be a reliable, accessible tool that helps achieve better symptom control for people with Parkinson’s and related movement disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience steadier symptom control with less side effects and shorter clinic visits.
How similar studies have gone: Prior DBS programming work has shown benefits with guided parameter selection, but automated home-based mapping and optimization are innovative.
Where this research is happening
-
Great Lakes Neurotechnologies
Independence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heldman, Dustin a. — Great Lakes Neurotechnologies
- Study coordinator: Heldman, Dustin a.
Related research
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Automated programming for personalized deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease
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TinyML-powered closed-loop DBS for Parkinson's disease
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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.