Bionic breast neuroprosthesis to restore touch and reduce pain after mastectomy
Official title: Bionic Breast Project: A Neuroprosthesis to Restore Touch Sensation and Reduce Chronic Pain After Mastectomy
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11140546 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $790,726 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA281301-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11140546 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women who have had a mastectomy with loss of breast sensation and who are willing to undergo a minor implant procedure and multiple clinic follow-ups at the University of Chicago.
✕Less likely to help
People with intact breast sensation, active untreated cancer, medical conditions that make surgery unsafe, or implanted electronic devices like pacemakers may not be eligible or benefit.
What this research studies
If you join, surgeons will place a soft, stretchable pressure sensor on the nipple-areolar area and cuff electrodes on the intercostal nerves that used to carry breast sensation. When the sensor detects pressure, the device will send mild electrical signals to those chest nerves to create a feeling on the otherwise numb breast. The Phase 0 trial will carefully map what kinds of sensations are produced, monitor pain levels, and check safety after the implant. You will have follow-up visits for testing, questionnaires, and monitoring of any side effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could restore meaningful touch sensations, reduce chronic neuropathic breast pain, and improve safety and emotional connection to the body.
How similar studies have gone: Related nerve-stimulation approaches have successfully restored touch in bionic hands and feet for limb amputees, but applying this method to intercostal breast nerves is a novel step.
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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A device to restore touch sensation and reduce pain after breast surgery
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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.