Brain implants that both record signals and deliver medicine
Official title: Microelectrodes for Co-Localized Tunable Drug Delivery and Neural Recording
Funded at Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center · NIH-11222656 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project creates tiny brain implants that read neural activity and release drugs locally to help people who need long-term brain–computer interfaces, especially Veterans with severe motor loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX003950-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11222656 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults with severe motor impairment from neurologic injury or disease who are current or potential users of intracortical brain–computer interfaces and meet local clinical trial or VA eligibility rules.
✕Less likely to help
People without motor impairments, those who do not want or cannot undergo brain implantation, or whose conditions do not affect neural control of movement are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
If you rely on a brain–computer interface to control a cursor, robotic arm, or powered limb, these implants aim to keep that connection working well for years. The team combines softer, more flexible electrode materials with tiny, adjustable drug-delivery features built into the same device to reduce tissue damage and inflammation. Devices will be tested in the lab and in preclinical models to measure how well they keep recording signals over long periods. The goal is a stable, long-lasting implant that improves reliable control for people with severe motor impairments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make brain–computer interfaces more reliable long-term and restore greater independence for people with severe paralysis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous laboratory and animal studies of flexible electrodes and local drug release have shown promise, but long-term stable performance in humans remains limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dunning, Allison Hess — Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Dunning, Allison Hess
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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.